E paper pdf (17 08 2017) (lhr)

CMYK

Thursday, 17 August, 2017 I Ziqa’ad 24, 1438 I rs 20.00 I vol vIII No 50 I 20 pages I lahore edition

qadri demands model Town reporT be made public g

Pat chief says sharifs will Pay for their deeds

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annoUnces Protests in mUltiPle cities after eid

LAHORE

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eCp rejects pTI’s appeal, orders to submit details STORY ON PAGE 02

Pm chairs nsc to review internal, external situation

staff report

akistan awami tehreek (Pat) chief tahirul Qadri, while addressing a sit-in on wednesday, thundered that such large crowd is a testament to the fact that model town tragedy's victims are not alone, and the sharifs will pay for their deeds.

Qadri was speaking at a sit-in at the mall in the memory of 2014 model town tragedy, in which 14 people were killed.

Pat chief praised his party workers who gathered at the mall in solidarity with the victims of the model town incident. “we await justice, and time is not far when justice will prevail,” he promised his supporters.

Qadri also demanded making the Justice baqir ali najfi report on model town case public, asking what is shehbaz sharif afraid of if he is not responsible for the tragedy. he claimed that shehbaz sharif was declared responsible in the report and that is why he hasn’t made it public even after three years. “the massive participation in this rally shows that the families of the 14 victims are not alone,” Qadri said. “we will not rest until shehbaz sharif is brought to justice,” he added. “nawaz is nothing without shehbaz’s hold over Punjab.” calling nawaz sharif a “thief in Panama leaks case” and shehbaz sharif a “murderer in model town incident”, he said Pakistan will not prosper until the nation gets rid of these two. he slammed Pakistan muslim leaguenawaz’s (Pml-n) attempts to introduce constitutional amendments while recalling how the ex-Pm—nawaz sharif—used to buy mPas and mnas in past, violating the sanctity of public votes and damaging democracy. he said, “nawaz sharif talks about the sanctity of votes while forgetting he had played a solid role in ousting the government of benazir bhutto in 1980s.” slamming nawaz sharif’s hopes of bringing a revolution, he said the former

foreiGn fUndinG case

STORY ON PAGE 03

Senator yaqoob Khan Nasar ‘tipped to be interim pml-N president’ STORY ON PAGE 03

premier only remembered revolution after the July 28 verdict of the supreme court that declared him ineligible. he had also announced protests in various cities, including faisalabad, multan, rawalpindi, after eidul azha to contest the unavailability of justice regarding the model town incident. he also expressed gratitude to Pakistan tehreek-e-insaf (Pti) leaders—firdous ashiq awan, fawad chaudhry and sheikh rashid—who showed their support for his cause in person. earlier, the Pat chief arrived at the mall sit-in staged by his party against the injustice with victims of model town tragedy.

Pat workers, including women, arrived at the mall after they were allowed by Punjab government to stage a protest. the Pat workers also held a rally in karachi, protesting against the government for

their lack of action against murderers. while talking to reporters, sheikh rashid said the court was lenient with the sharif family and hudaibiya Paper mills case will be tough for nawaz sharif. he said the future strategy will be made after his meeting with tahirul Qadri. the stage was prepared at istanbul chowk where seats had also been placed for the participants. the party had earlier assured that they will not violate the codes and stage a peaceful protest and traffic flow will remain unaffected. they promised to conclude the sit-in by 10 pm after Pat chief tahirul Qadri’s address. the administration had offered Pat to transfer their protest at dc road where they will be provided with a foolproof security.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 04

Us designates hizb as a ‘foreign terrorist group’ STORY ON PAGE 03

Trump defiant on Charlottesville unrest: 'Blame on both sides' STORY ON PAGE 08

UmAr AKmAl lAUNCheS verBAl ATTACK oN mICKey ArThUr ‘Politics is the name of Possibilities’

Kh Asif says can revive Nawaz, Zardari contact STORY ON PAGE 03

SohAIl mAhmooD To replACe ABDUl BASIT AS pAKISTAN’S eNvoy To INDIA STORY ON PAGE 03

NAB summons Sharifs, Ishaq Dar STORY ON PAGE 04

STORY ON BACK PAGE

Garrett-led Us military delegation arrives in Pakistan STORY ON PAGE 02

02 NEWS

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

FOREIGN FUNDING CASE

eCP rejeCts PtI’s APPeAl, orders to submIt detAIls ISLAMABAD

r

AkbAr terms ImrAn As ProClAImed offender

STAFF REPORT/APP

EJECTING request of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday directed the party to submit details of foreign funding on September 7.

A five-member commission headed

by Chief Election Commissioner Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza after hearing the arguments of both the parties’ counsels, dismissed the PTI’s application for delaying ECP’s proceeding on foreign funding case, filed by PTI founding member and former central leader Akbar S Babar.

In his arguments, Babar’s counsel Ahmad Hassan requested the commission to continue proceeding on the party funding case and issue order for the production of all the documents without any further delay. He said that the commis-

ISLAMABAD: Founding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Akbar S Babar on Wednesday said that PTI Chairman Imran Khan was a proclaimed offender. Talking to media outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), he lauded today’s decision of the ECP and said that Imran’s tall claim of promoting neat and clean politics has already been proved false. “He (Imran) is promoting politics of inheritance,” he said. He said that Imran stuck himself as the party chairman for the last 20 years by hook and crook by conducting doubtful and unfair intra-party elections. He (Imran) also appointed his favourites on key party posts, he pointed out. Akbar said that the PTI chief had disbanded the Ehtasaab Commission in Pakhtunkhwa instead of making the province corruption-free. Akbar’s counsel Ahmad Hassan said that the ECP has dismissed the PTI’s application of stay in foreign funding case and ordered to submit all documents of foreign funding in next hearing. The ECP has issued order on merit as PTI was intentionally delaying the matter by presenting application on every date of reference, he said, adding that now PTI has to declare its sources of prohibited funding from abroad. He said PTI has to prove that all funding was received through fair way and means. He said that in case of confirmation of collecting funds from prohibited means, there would investigation from PTI’s responsible finance committee members while the confiscation of amount was also likely if they were found involved in the prohibited funding. APP sion should make decision in accordance with the law rather on the wishes of PTI. He said that the party was intentionally hiding the source of its foreign funding from the commission. He said that it was not a matter of jurisdiction

‘Public won’t accept change through undemocratic process’

but a matter of merit and appealed the ECP to issue order in this case on merit. He said that PTI has adopted a habit of submitting application on every date of proceeding.

The counsel said that this was very

embarrassing that every time they come up with new apprehensions just to linger on this case in ECP. Every time, they try to get further time, eh said and questioned why PTI was reluctant to present all the details of the foreign funding. He said that

Pakistan, Afghanistan for trust building, cooperation

LAHORE: People of Pakistan will not accept any change brought from an undemocratic process and the country’s future is linked with democracy, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said on Wednesday. He reiterated his stance that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will not accept the Supreme Court’s decision, as only public decision matters to the party through which it had come into power. Speaking at an event, Rafique said that positive change in Pakistan will only come through vote – not through any other means. “Pakistan was formed after a long democratic process.

Votes must be respected by accepting the authority of elected representatives,” adding that the government is not fighting against any institution to avoid chaos in the country. “We won’t make Pakistan next Egypt, Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan,” he said. “We as a country have not yet defeated poverty, terrorism and hunger,” he added. “If someone thinks that a politician can be disqualified over executive orders.

It is not right,” he said. He maintained, “A political power can’t be compared with executive boards as everyone should accept Pakistan’s general public decision.”

The federal minister further added that there remains no space for technocrat government, and days of martial law are over in the country, adding that Pakistan will be in reverse gear if people’s mandate is not accepted. Separately, Rafique said that Railways profit has crossed over Rs 400 million. “Railways is being managed without any single penny of foreign funding, massive improvement is going on in the department,” he said. Rafique claimed that the turnover profit of railways would be between Rs 50 to Rs 53 million. INP

ISLAMABAD, KABUL AGREE TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATION BETWEEN INSTITUTIONS ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR

Pakistan and Afghanistan discussed ‘Chinese proposals’ for mutual trust building and mutual cooperation against terrorism besides agreeing to take measures for strengthening institutional cooperation to effectively combat the menace.

The agreement was reached during the bilateral political consultations took place between the Pakistani and the Afghan leadership in Kabul on Tuesday, according to a statement issued here on Wednesday. Foreign Affairs Secretary Tehmina Janjua visited Kabul for the consultations with her Afghan counterpart Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai. During the visit, she also called on Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani, former president Hamid Karzai, National Security Adviser Haneef Atmar, NDS chief Masoom Stanikzai and Hizb-eWahdat leader Muhammad Mohaqiq.

“The two sides agreed that terrorism was a common challenge and there was a need to strengthen institutional cooperation between the two countries to effectively combat this menace,” an official handout said.

The two sides agreed that lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan was critical for regional stability.

The foreign secretary emphasised that there was no military solution to the Afghan conflict and the focus should be on evolving a credible political settlement. An official told Pak-

istan Today that both the sides discussed the Chinese proposals for mutual trust building, peace and harmony, agreeing that trust building was need of the hour between both the neighbouring countries. He said that China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has recently shared some useful proposals for the trust building between Pakistan and Afghanistan which came under discussion between the two sides. “Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to establish institutional cooperation and coordination,” he said.

The official said that there was an agreement that rather than using media for messaging across the border, institutions needed to directly engage. He said that Pakistan shared its concerns with Afghanistan that the defunct Tehreek-e-Taliban and Jamat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) have sanctuaries and support from Afghanistan. “Due to the shared concerns of cross-border terrorism, Pakistan has urged Afghan side to reinforce border management, intelligence cooperation and intelligence sharing. Since we have a long border with Afghanistan, divided families on both the sides of the borders who have ethnic and religious commonalities, there is a need to strengthen border management,” he said.

Both the sides agreed to shun blame game and rather better coordinate mutually for trust building. The official said that the Afghan side shared their concerns that due to the successive attacks by Taliban, terrorist outfits were flourishing and they were

making full use of the space created due to the infighting. “The Afghan leadership believes that Taliban insurgency must end and reconciliation must start to stabilise the region. If Taliban get to table, then we can handle other terrorist groups,” he said.

The official said that the Afghan leadership preferred heart-to-heart talks with Pakistan for better engagement and there was no other option left to tackle terrorism for both the countries.

Asked what issues were discussed during the meetings, the official said that the Afghan leadership was concerned over the growing incidents of terrorism. “The Afghan leadership believes that cross-border attacks are a major reason for the instability and they are concerned that the Afghan Taliban get ‘support’ from Pakistani territory.

They are also concerned about repatriation of refugees,” he said. The foreign secretary underlined the need of strengthening border management and early humane repatriation of Afghan refugees. Emphasizing the importance of regional connectivity, she reiterated Pakistan’s desire to expedite transit facilitation and infrastructure connectivity projects between the two countries.

Garrett-led US military delegation in Pakistan VISITING ARMY OFFICIALS VISITS NATIONAL COUNTER-TERRORISM TRAINING CENTRE ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

A six-member delegation of the US Army’s Central Command led by Lieutenant General Michael Garrett is on a three-day visit to Pakistan, according to

a press release issued here on Wednesday.

On his first visit to Pakistan, Lt General Garrett along with the delegation met with chief of the general staff, the directors general of the Military Training and the Military Operations at the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army.

They also met with directors general of the Joint Staff and the Joint Warfare and Training to discuss operations, training, and other areas of military cooperation between Pakistan and the United States.

The delegation also visited the National Counter-Terrorism Training Centre where the director briefed them on efforts to train soldiers to fight terrorist groups. Lt General Garrett said this visit was significant in continuing to build

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the relationship between the two militaries and countries, one of key partners in the region.

The Central Command engages with Pakistan’s military leadership and organisations primarily through military-to-military information exchanges, regional symposia and multilateral and bilateral exercises. These events allow both the countries to build relationships necessary to advance counterterrorism efforts in the region.

AKBAR’S COUNSEL POINTS OUT PTI’S US BANK ACCOUNTS PTI COUNSEL SAYS TO SUBMIT DETAILS AFTER SC DECISION PTI has different stance on same matter in different courts.

He said that the ECP has just submitted its opinion regarding its jurisdiction with the Supreme Court and that it didn’t present a fact report as being said by the PTI counsel. Hassan requested the commission that PTI should not be given further relief and it should be stopped further giving applications to ECP. “This is a joke with the system. They want to stop things which is not fair,” he said. The PTI was also hiding before the court the details of its accounts in the US, he said, adding that PTI must produce statements of its bank accounts in the US. PTI counsel Anwar Mansoor Khan said that PTI would submit its foreign funding details after having clarity on the jurisdiction of ECP on the matter. He said that same issue was being discussed in the Supreme Court and requested the commission to suspend the proceeding till decision of the apex court on the matter.

SECP RECORD TAMPERING

Contestants, accused were all part of same boat, says judge ISLAMABAD: A preliminary look at the evidence shows that the closure note was made by SECP Commissioner Tahir Mahmood, SECP executive directors Maheen Fatima, Abid Hussain and Ali Azeem Ikram. But at the same time, all of them stated that the closure note was backdated under the influence of former SECP chief Zafarul Haq Hijazi, observed the judge. While addressing the issue of backdate entries, the judge observed that the closure note was required as it was well discussed – in emails presented before the court and probed by FIA – between the relevant dealing officers i.e. Tahir Mahmood, Maheen Fatima, Abid Hussain and Ali Azeem Ikram.

Thereafter, these officers signed the closure note in backdating and then became witnesses for the same incident against Zafar Hijazi. A tentative look at the evidence shows that the closure note was backdated after meetings and full discussions among Tahir Mahmood, Maheen Fatima, Abid Hussain, Ali Azeem Ikram and Tariq Ahmed. All of them were in the same boat, observed the judge. The judge had also referred to the various emails exchanged between Tariq Ahmed and Maheen Fatima on this issue with the observation that none of those emails mentioned anything regarding Hijazi.

It was concluded that other than the statements of officers who signed the alleged closure note in backdate, the independent corroborative evidence is needed in the case against Zafar Hijazi. The judge, while granting bail to Hijazi, referred to the JIT’s analysis of Maheen that she is a dicey character. It also relied on Abid Hussain’s statement before the JIT in which he had disclosed that the case against Chaudhry Sugar Mills Limited was made on political grounds by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government. It is pertinent to mention that during opening and closing of the case, Tahir Mahmood was the commissioner in-charge of the department handling the case. While the concerned officers have confirmed Tahir’s involvement, yet he has shied away from having any association with the case.

The judge emphasized on the JIT’s report that Abid Hussain knew about the irregularity (backdate note) but did not take any steps to address this criminal act. As a matter of fact, backdating was not possible without the consent of Abid Hussain as he was the custodian of record when this incident took place. The court expressed displeasure over FIA for not providing Hijazi with an opportunity to put up his defence while recording statements of the witnesses under section 164 CRPC. RAJA FAISAL

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

NEWS ‘POLITICS IS THE NAME OF POSSIBILITIES’

kh AsIf sAYs CAn revIve nAwAz, zArdArI ContACt ISLAMABAD/LAHORE STAFF REPORT/HASSAAN AHMED

m

INISTER for Foreign Affairs Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that if he is instructed by the party’s high command, he can revive contact between Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) CoChairman Asif Ali Zardari.

Speaking to a private TV channel, he said that he was certain that Asif Zardari would agree to revive dialogue with the PML-N leadership. “Yes, if I am instructed by Nawaz Sharif, I can play a role to revive dialogue,” he said. “I am a political worker. Politics is the name of possibilities. Doors are not kept shut forever,” he added. However, PPP spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar dispelled the impression that Asif Zardari and party’s Chairman Bilawal Bhutto’s presence in Lahore was aimed at meeting with Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister.

Commenting on media reports, he said that PPP’s policy has already been

articulated by Bilawal Bhutto at his press talk in Islamabad and in a public meeting in Chiniot. As it appears, PPP seems to be in no mood to support the ruling party in making any amendments in the constitution or to engage with it in the grand national dialogue that Nawaz Sharif was continuously talking about since his ouster from the office.

Nawaz Sharif continued his rhetoric of ‘grand national dialogue’ throughout his recent GT Road rally and also gave reference to Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani’s statement, in which the latter talks about an intra-institutional dialogue to avoid any confrontation between the state institutions.

On Tuesday, Zardari reached Lahore and it was being speculated that the PPP co-chairman arrived in Lahore to meet Nawaz Sharif and he may also lend PPP’s support to the PML-N leadership for the sake of democracy. The rumours were further strengthened when Bilawal Bhutto also reached Lahore on Wednesday – the day after Zardari landed from Dubai.

Both Zardari and Bilawal chaired meetings at Lahore’s Bilawal House, in

sohail mahmood to become Pakistan’s envoy to India NEw DELHI: The Foreign Office on Wednesday announced that Sohail Mahmood has assumed the charge of Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India in New Delhi, replacing the incumbent envoy to India Abdul Basit. Mahmood served as Islamabad’s envoy to Turkey from 19911994 for the first time. He served in various Pakistan missions abroad, including Washington, New York after that. He worked as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Thailand from 2009-2013. It is crucial to note that Mahmood hasn’t served in India before.

However, neither Basit nor his predecessors, Salman Bashir and Shahid Malik, served in India before being posted as the high commissioner here. According to a report published in a leading Indian newspaper, Mahmood was set to replace Basit as the envoy in April amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan at that time.

Before assuming his position at Ankara, Mahmood was Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad, where he earlier served as Director General (2005-2009), Director (1995-1998) and Section Officer (1986-1991). He was born in 1962 and has done Masters in History and International Relations. AgENcIES

bIsP rejects daily mail story regarding aid ISLAMABAD: The management of the Benazir Income Support Programm (BISP) has strongly rejected the story of British newspaper Daily Mail regarding Britain aid to its programmes and termed it factually incorrect and misleading.

The clarification came in response to news appearing in the media, based on the story of British newspaper Daily Mail, said a press release. This story appeared for the first time in January 2017 in Daily Mail; British Prime Minister Theresa May subsequently defended both BISP and the cash transfers. In response to that story in January 2017, a spokesperson for the British prime minister, in a briefing, said that BISP is a respected system for giving aid to those that need it the most. Britain is providing a small contribution to a much bigger programme run by Pakistan’s government, where there are already proven results, he said. There are robust systems in place to protect Britain’s aid investment so that the cash transfer goes into the hands of the most deserving. APP

which all the party’s Punjab leadership – including Qamar Zaman Kaira, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Shaukat Basra – was present. It was decided that PPP would not support Nawaz Sharif’s demand of making amendments in the constitution.

Zardari said that he has had no contact with Nawaz Sharif and has no plans to meet him in future. According to Zardari, Nawaz’s priorities drastically change when he gets in trouble as compared to when he rules the country. He asked Nawaz that why he did not remember to amend the Article 62 and 63 when he was the prime minister.

He further said that there was no danger to democracy right now; the only danger was to Nawaz Sharif’s politics.

He was of the view that the PPP’s recent public gathering in Chiniot was enough to respond opponents, who used to claim that PPP has been routed out from Punjab. He also said that Bilawal’s presence in Punjab would definitely improve the PPP’s popularity. It is pertinent to mention here that it was Zardari who helped Nawaz Sharif’s government when it was

facing crisis in August 2014, when both Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri were staging their sit-ins in Islamabad outside the PM Office. At that time, Zardari met with Nawaz Sharif at his Jati Umra residence in Lahore and vowed to safeguard the parliament and democracy.

But this time, Zardari has ruled out any possibility to lend support to Nawaz Sharif. Shaukat Basra, who was present in the meeting, told Pakistan Today that PPP was adhered to the statement of Bilawal in which he said that this time they would even not attend Nawaz Sharif’s phone call. “There is no meeting planned with Nawaz Sharif during Zardari sahib’s stay in Lahore and PPP will never support him in amending the constitution,” he said.

POLITICAL SITUATION: Bilawal Bhutto, who came from Karachi to Lahore, held meeting with Asif Zardari and discussed the political situation prevailing in the country on Wednesday. The former president instructed the party’s office bearers to chalk out a strategy for the by-election in NA 120 and vigorously campaign for the party’s candidate.

PM Abbasi chairs NSC to review internal, external situation PAKISTAN SHOWS CONCERN OVER VIOLATIONS AT LoC ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The National Security Committee (NSC) on Wednesday voiced concern over the violations by India across the Line of Control (LoC) and human rights violations against the innocent Kashmiri people in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK).

The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi here at the PM Office reiterated that regional peace was directly linked to resolution of all outstanding issues including the core issue of Jammu Kashmir. The meeting reviewed both internal and external security situation and the foreign policy imperatives in regional and global context. A statement released after the meeting said the committee expressed concerns over frequent incidents of firing by Indian forces over the Line of Control.

While reaffirming its continued commitment to pursue peace and stability in Afghanistan through an Afghanowned and Afghan-led peace process,

Pm, bAloCh dIsCuss fAtA reforms In detAIl ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The minister briefed the prime minister regarding matters pertaining to his ministry. They also discussed much-debated reforms for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas during the meeting. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf also called on Prime Minister Abbasi and briefed him on the working of his ministry and discussed development schemes of Mansehra. Adviser on Aviation Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan called on Prime Minister Abbasi. Aviation affairs and matters of political significance were discussed during the meeting. Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Omar Ayub also called on Prime Minister Abbasi at the PM Office. Matters pertaining to development work and overall political situation were discussed during the meeting. STAFF REPORT the forum resolved to work at all levels with the people and the Afghan government for removal of all irritants including repeated cross-border fire and support network in Afghanistan for terrorist incidents in Pakistan.

The committee unanimously expressed satisfaction over the gains of anti-terrorism operations particularly Radd-ul-Fasaad and Khyber-IV and resolved to continue with these operations till elimination of the last trace of terrorist elements.

The meeting was attended by Min-

ister for Defence Khurram Dastgir, Minister for Finance Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal, Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, ISI Director General Lt General Naveed Mukhtar and senior civil and military officials.

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rangers dG briefs Ahsan about law, order in karachi ISLAMABAD: The Rangers Sindh director general on Wednesday briefed Minister for Interior Affairs Ahsan Iqbal over the law and order in Karachi. Senior officials of the Interior Ministry also attended the meeting, chaired by Ahsan Iqbal here at the ministry. On the occasion, the interior minister said that nobody would be allowed to sabotage peace in Karachi. He said that Karachi was the backbone for the progress of economy of Pakistan. He said that no leniency would be shown towards anti-state elements. He also said that those who were doing peaceful politics would be respected. He appreciated the abilities and services of the paramilitary forces. A delegation of the Tehreek-i-Nifaz Fiqa Jafria also called on Ahsan Iqbal and felicitated him on taking over the charge of the Interior Ministry. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf was also present on the occasion. The interior minister said that the religious tolerance was need of the hour. He said that extremism was a conspiracy and it aimed at dividing the Muslims among various sects. “People belonging to all sects should play their role in development and prosperity by putting aside their differences,” he added. The government was taking measures to cope with challenges of extremism and terrorism being faced by the country, he said and expressed the government’s resolve to create such atmosphere where every citizen would receive their due respect in the society. Ahsan also assured the delegation that the security would be further strengthened in the country during the month of Muharramul Haram. STAFF REPORT

Yaqoob khan nasar ‘tipped to be interim Pml-n president’ LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leadership has decided to make Senator Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Nasar the party’s new president, sources disclosed on Wednesday. Currently, Yaqoob Khan Nasar is a PML-N’s member of the National Assembly from Loralai constituency and also holding the position of PML-N central vice president. Reports suggest that the formal announcement in this regard would be made in the party’s Central Working Committee meeting in Islamabad today. According to reports, Nawaz discussed Nasir’s interim presidency with the senior party leadership at his residence on Wednesday and is said to have received no serious resistance to the proposal. The senator was first elected in 1985. Nasir is also considered a close aide of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He had served as a member of Balochistan Assembly and as provincial minister for irrigation, development and public health (from 1985 to 1988). Earlier, it was being speculated by the sources within the party that the seat of party president will go to either Kalsoom Nawaz or Shehbaz Sharif. But the decision regarding the new president was not final yet. On August 8, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) notified PML-N that with the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif, the party must elect its new president as according to the Political Parties Order (2002), a disqualified person cannot hold the key party position. INP

US designates Hizb as a ‘foreign terrorist group’ TREASURY DEPARTMENT FREEZES HIZBUL MUJAHIDEEN’S ASSETS WASHINGTON AgENcIES

The United States now named Hizbul Mujahideen, a Kashmiri resistance group, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group, more than 50 days after adding its chief Syed Salahuddin to its list of designated global terrorists.

“Today’s action notifies the US public

and the international community that Hizb is a ‘terrorist’ organisation,” the US State Department said in a statement. “Such designations expose and isolate ‘terrorist’ groups and individuals and assist the law enforcement activities of US agencies and other governments,” it said. The Hizb is one of the most active groups operating in Jammu Kashmir, and claimed responsibility for several attacks just to give a setback to Indian interests. Formed in 1989, “the Hizbul Mujahideen is one of the largest and oldest ‘terrorist’ groups operating in Kashmir,” the statement said.

“The group is led by ‘specially designated global terrorist’ Mohammad Yusuf Shah, also known as Syed Salahuddin,” it said. “Terrorism designa-

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tions expose and isolate groups and individuals, and deny them access to the US financial system. Moreover, designations can assist the law enforcement activities of the US agencies and other governments,” the statement read. The State Department said that the Kashmiri group has been declared a foreign ‘terrorist’ outfit under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Section 1(b) of Executive Order (EO) 13224. These designations seek to deny the outfit the resources it needs to carry out attacks. In June, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said that the designation of individuals supporting the Kashmiri

right to self-determination as ‘terrorists’ was completely unjustified.

04 NEWS

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

‘MODI’s KASHMIR POLICy CReAteD SPACe FOR PAKIStAN tO MISBeHAve’

Fazl, Shehbaz discuss political situation, IOK LaHore INP

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief and Kashmir Committee Chairman Maulana Fazlur Rehman called on Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif here on Wednesday.

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, political situation and circumstances of India-occupied Kashmir (IOK) came under discussion. Both the leaders strongly condemned Indian atrocities against unarmed Kashmiri people in Jammu and Kashmir and the incidents of unprovoked firing by Indian army at Line of Control (LoC). Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that freedom movement of Kashmiri people cannot be pressed through cruelties. The chief minister said that personal interests have no value in front of interests of Pakistan. He stressed upon the need to promote the culture of accommodation and decency in the politics. Later, Shehbaz Sharif, talking to a delegation of Wafaqul Madaras Al-Arabia Pakistan, said that Pakistan needs unity in the current situation and the role of the Ulema is of paramount importance for promoting unity and harmony in the country. He said that Ulema have to play a key role in the promotion of brotherhood and religious harmony. He added that the menace of terrorism will be eliminated only through the force of unity.

Family of PML-N rally martyr Hamid gets Rs2mn lalaMUsa: The family of Hamid Chughtai, who was crushed to death by one of the cars in former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Grand Trunk Road (GT) rally, has received Rs 2 million, as compensation money. According to details, an administrative person and member of provincial assembly (MPA) visited Hamid’s house and gave the money whereas sources told that approximately Rs 3 million amount has been granted to the victim’s family so far. It was also learnt that a leader of Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) has also given Rs 50,000 to the family which was later returned.

Sources also revealed that a man, earlier claimed to be deceased’s grandfather, disappeared overnight after giving antiNawaz statement. Hamid’s parents cashed the cheques and transferred the money into their account. Moreover, Nawaz Sharif’s arrival at the victim’s place is also expected in few days who promised to grant further Rs 5 million. INP

BengaLuru

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AGENCIES

ONGRESS vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday flayed the Jammu and Kashmir policy of the Narendra Modi government, alleging that it has created a space in the troubled state for Pakistan to “misbehave”.

His attack on the government at a party rally comes a day after Modi, in his Independence Day address, reached out to the Kashmiris, saying abuses and bullets would not resolve their problems but embracing them would.

“He (Modi) has created an environment in Jammu and Kashmir of hatred and anger, and the only people who benefit from violence and hatred

are the Pakistanis,” Rahul said.

Claiming that he worked on the J&K issue with Manmohan Singh, who was the prime minister, and leaders like P Chidambaram and Jairam Ramesh silently without any “drama or tamasha”, he said their effort of 10 years was “destroyed by Modi in one month”.

Gandhi said that the Congress-led coalition in 2004 inherited a government from Atal Bihari Vajpayee under which Kashmir was “burning”, and one of the biggest successes of the Manmohan Singh government was creating an environment of peace in J&K. “We worked for 10 years to bring peace in Kashmir. We did panchayat elections, we did work on employment, we connected thousands of women

there to banks. The reason was we wanted peace and harmony in Kashmir,” he said.

“We wanted to embrace the people of Jammu and Kashmir and we wanted them to embrace us. We wanted peace there, also because when there is peace, Pakistan can do nothing in Jammu and Kashmir... The space for Pakistan to do mischief there closes,” he said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge, state Congress in-charge KC Venugopal and PCC president G Parameshwara, among others, were present at the event.

Stressing that a peaceful Jammu and Kashmir was the “worst thing” for

Gulalai allegations: Impossible to validate BBM data without Blackberry consent iSLamaBad RAJA FAISAL

Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) cyber investigation experts and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) say that it is impossible to retrieve and prove the authenticity of the Blackberry Messenger (BBM) data if one of the phones is unavailable.

“BBM is most secretive messaging service. If an individual deletes his data, no external authority can retrieve its data except the Blackberry authorities”, an officer of the FIA cyber wing told Pakistan Today.

FIA cyber wing normally investigates cases by collecting retrieved data or the handsets. Normal messaging service is easily retrievable. Normally the data of handsets of the individuals under investigation is easily collating the events minute by minute but there are cases where systems can get stuck in anomalies.

BBM service never cooperates to retrieve a data used in an incident; while, on the other hand, various software and websites can also be used to forge the messages.

“If one of the handset’s data is unavailable, it will be impossible to prove anything until service

provider provides the data”, FIA officer added.

A PTA source said that no one had yet contacted the PTA or filed an application to retrieve the data of any handset involved in the recent messaging scandal that was unfolded by MNA Ayesha Gulalai in her early August presser. The PTA can only retrieve selective calls or messaging data from the handsets and the cellular service provider. The authority cannot retrieve BBMs of any user.

“I have been using Blackberry in past; fake BBMs through websites and software could easily be crafted back then”, PTA source added.

Sharifs will pay for their deeds: Qadri Continued from page 01 Earlier on Tuesday, Lahore High Court (LHC) had barred the party from staging protests on Mall Road of the provincial capital in the light of Punjab government’s decision.

‘Qadri’s protest is a political show’: Meanwhile, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, reacting to PAT’s Mall Road protest, called it Tahirul Qadri’s “political show”.

He reaffirmed that Model Town massacre report by Justice Baqir Najfi was submitted in court and will be made public upon the orders of case bench. Talking to a private TV channel programme, he claimed Qadri himself was responsible for the scuffle of PAT workers with Punjab police officials who came to move away barriers.

Decision will be made according to law, he said while pointing out that

PAT has staged a protest at one end while their case is pending in court.

Rana Sana opined that PAT will continue their political show till 2018 elections while the decision of Model Town incident will be ruled by court.

The PML-N leader refuted to the claims made by PAT chief and demanded him to bring proof. He claimed only a few of the victims are present in the protest and Qadri should bring evidence of threats.

Car rally in cold desert of GB to start today iSLamaBad GHULAM ABBAS

In a move to promote tourism in the region, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) government, for the first time, will organise a car rally in freezing cold desert of Sarfranga in Skardu from August 17 to 19.

According to GB Commissioner Asim Ayub, the 30-kilometre car rally will be first of its kind in Pakistan.

Around 200 national and international contenders were expected to take part in the competition. A tent village would be erected near Blind Lake on August 17, while a polo match would be held on August 18 in connection with the festivities planned with the car rally.

Besides, various cultural activities, musical night and traditional ZAKH

competition (boating on Indus River) would also be held on August 18 and closing ceremony of the event would be on August 20. The aim of these events is to introduce traditions and culture of this remote area in the world and opening new opportunities for the local communities in the tourism sector.

According to officials, Sarfa Ranga is one of the highest cold deserts in the world located in Shigar district some 20 kilometres off Skardu. The desert is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, a beautiful lake named Jharba Tso, Indus River and Sarfa Ranga village.

Gilgit-Baltistan government is playing a leading role in holding the event with a vision to initiate a sporting event of national scale in GB as part of an extended tourism season and to diversify

tourism activities on financially and institutionally sustainable basis.

The cold desert jeep rally would start from Bab-e-Shigar at 8am and end at the same spot at 3pm, covering a distance of 30 kilometres. Motorcyclists are also participating in the race. A prequalification race would be held on August 19 from 10am to 3pm.

On August 18, a tent village would be established at Jharba Tso, where a Zakh (raft) competition would also be held on the same day. A gemstone and food exhibition, photo competition, cultural music and dance show would also be arranged during the event.

Additionally, a freestyle polo match would be held at Royal Polo Ground, besides, a local traditional festival of ‘May Fang’ (lighting/fire playing)

CMYK

would also be held on Yadgar-eShuhada, Skardu to entertain the international and national drivers.

There are sand dunes in Skardu around the River Indus. This desert stretches from the Khaplu Valley to Nubra Ladakh and Shigar Skardu Valley to Zanskar, India, but the largest desert area is found in Skardu and Shigar valley.

Locally called Biana Naqpo and Katpana Biana, the Katpana Desert is located near Skardu Airport, while Shigar desert is located on the way to Shigar Valley These sand banks are also known a the cold desert with strong winds that shift the dunes, forming different shapes each time. This desert holds a unique place in the hearts of travelers due to its high altitude and cold region.

Pakistan, Gandhi said what the UPA government did for ten years was “destroyed in one month by Modi”.

"I'm telling you this because Mr Narendra Modi's policy has created a space in Jammu and Kashmir for Pakistanis to misbehave," he added.

Hitting out at the foreign policy of the Modi government, Rahul accused the PM of alienating India's neighbours and also Russia.

"Narendra Modi has not stopped there. When we were in the government, all neighbouring countries, other than Pakistan and China, were favourable to us... One by one Narendra Modi has alienated them," he alleged.

"For the first time in our history, Russia is selling weapons to Pakistan," he said.

PM for making CDA truly innovative, public friendly iSLamaBad STAFF REPORTER

Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired a meeting at the PM House on Wednesday, in which he was briefed on CDA Affairs. The PM desired that the CDA should devise innovative solutions for urban as well as rural land development. “The CDA, while introducing sectorial management and resources, should ensure service integration,” the PM said. Abbasi also stressed on the need for redressal mechanism regarding public grievances on municipal affairs. “Encroachments must be stopped and roads’ design should be user-friendly,” the PM emphasised. He directed the Ministry to submit a comprehensive presentation, enlisting the said proposals and their implementation mechanisms for making CDA a truly innovative and public friendly organisation. Minister of State for CADD Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Islamabad Mayor and CDA Chairman Sheikh Ansar Aziz and other senior government officials were also present during the meeting.

NAB summons Sharifs, Ishaq Dar neWS deSK Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons, Hasan and Hussain Nawaz, have been summoned by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on August 18 to its Lahore office, according to media reports. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has also been summoned. The references would be filed on orders of the Supreme Court, after its July 28th verdict in which Nawaz Sharif was disqualified from holding public office. The NAB is to file references against the Sharif family, Captain Safdar and Ishaq Dar

by September 8. It has also been revealed that assistance will be sought from foreign countries during the probing of cases against the Sharif family. The case will be pursued in an accountability court.

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

NEWS

Wali Khan murder case: SHC overturns death sentence of convict, orders retrial Karachi: Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday overturned the death sentence of Faisal Mehmood, alias Mota, the primary accused in Wali Khan Babar case and ordered a retrial by the lower courts.

The SHC was hearing an appeal filed by Faisal Mota, who was awarded death sentence in absentia, by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Kandhkot in 2014. Mota is said to be a worker of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), was later arrested and detained in 2015 in Karachi after Rangers conducted a raid at the MQM headquarters.

The ATC in Kandhkot will now hear the case from scratch again. On January 13, 2011, a journalist, Wali Khan Babar, was going home from his office when he was shot dead in Liaquatabad, Karachi.

Shocked by the murder, journalists across the country had protested and mourned his death, demanding the arrest and trial of the culprits. Syed Mohammad Ali Rizvi, Shahrukh alias Mani, Naveed alias Polka and Shakil alias Malik had also been indicted for the murder. INP

UK’s NCA to train NAB’s investigation officers islaMaBad: United Kingdom’s (UK) National Crime Agency (NCA) will provide training to investigation officers of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to enhance their investigation techniques on modern lines. This was decided during a meeting between UK NCA Country Manager Osman Ahmed and NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry here at NAB Headquarters on Wednesday, according to a press release.

The NAB chairman, in his welcome remarks, said that it was very encouraging that the NCA would provide training to NAB officers. He said that NAB highly values its partnership with NCA. “Since anticorruption work had no national boundaries; close cooperation between NAB and NCA, would be of great help towards nabbing the corrupt,” he added. The NAB chairman welcomed the close collaboration between NAB and NCA. He appreciated that NCA had already organised two study visits to the UK for six NAB investigation officers, which proved to be very productive in improving their investigation skills and techniques and broadened their vision and international exposure. INP

Will unite Muslim League factions: Ch Shujaat Karachi: Pakistan Muslim LeagueQuaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain arrived in Karachi on Wednesday.

Addressing the media at the airport, he said that he is on a mission to unite the Muslim League factions in the greater interest of the country. Hussain, a former prime minister, said those crying conspiracy should now disclose who is conspiring against them. He informed that he has not scheduled a meeting with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. In reply to a question, Hussain said as of now he has made no contact with former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf. AGENCIES

BY (Late) Brigadier moHammad YouSaf I served under General Akhtar Abdur Rahman for four years at the height of the Afghan war. He carried the enormous responsibility for the struggle against what was then, the Soviet superpower, for over eight years. I call him the ‘Silent Soldier’ because of his great humility and modesty. Few people, apart from his family, knew him as well as I did until he was assassinated, along with President Zia-ul-Haq, in the plane crash in August 1988. In one blow the Jihad lost its two most powerful leaders.

When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979, President Zia sent for General Akhtar, who had recently taken over as Director of ISI. At that time, nobody in authority in Pakistan, and certainly no overseas government (including the US), had thought that the might of Soviet military could be confronted. Afghanistan was written-off as lost. The only person within the military to advocate supporting the Jihad by Pakistan, and the only person to come up with a plausible plan for doing so, was General Akhtar. He convinced the president that not only was it vital to Pakistan’s interests to fight the aggressors but that there was every chance of defeating

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PReSIDeNt MAMNOON LAUDS AgA KHAN’s DeveLOPMeNt INItIAtIveS DEPARTING UAE AMBASSADOR CALLS ON MAMNOON iSLamaBad

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APP

RESIDENT Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday said the constant efforts of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) through its multiple projects in the country were making a visible difference in the lives of the people and Pakistan’s infrastructural development.

The president expressed these views while talking to Aga Khan Council for Pakistan President Hafiz Sherali, who called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr to handover a letter from Prince Karim Aga Khan in response to the president’s letter of felicitation on the diamond jubilee of the Aga Khan’s Imamat.

The president appreciated the role of the AKDN, Aga Khan Foundation and Aga Khan Health Services’ role in promoting many important social services projects, especially in the northern areas of Pakistan.

He said Prince Karim Aga Khan, like his grandfather, focused his efforts concerning the quality of life of Muslims all around the world.

In areas of health, education, cultural, revitalization, and economic empowerment, Aga Khan worked to inspire excellence, he said.

The president also underlined the role of Aga Khan’s grandfather Sir Sultan Shah Aga Khan in the Pakistan Movement as the first president of All India Muslim League (AIML).

In his message, acknowledging

his family’s strong ties dating back to the foundation of Pakistan, Prince Aga Khan highlighted the long-established collaboration of the AKDN with public and private institutions in building a strong and vibrant civil society in the country.

He expressed gratitude to the president and the government of Pakistan for their continued support and partnership which led to a number of pioneering initiatives in the country.

Hafiz Sherali apprised the president about AKDN’s recent activities and its focus to alleviate poverty, provide increased access to finance for education, health and housing, early childhood development, and infrastructure (principally, water and energy) projects in the developing countries.

The president also conveyed best wishes for Prince Karim Aga Khan from the government of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, UAE Ambassador

Abolishing Articles 62, 63 will allow plunderers to rule country: Siraj LaHore INP

Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Siraj-ul-Haq has said that abolishing Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution is aimed to allow access to all cheaters, plunderers and criminals to the Parliament and reins of the country.

Talking to various delegations which called on him at Mansoora on Wednesday, Siraj-ul-Haq said that any attempt to tamper with the Constitution would undermine national unity and harmony and it would be difficult to keep the provinces under the federation. He said that those talking of abrogating the Constitution were bent upon harming national unity.

The JI chief deplored that after

disqualification, Nawaz Sharif had not opted the correct path and had become more arrogant. He said that instead of repenting for his mistakes, the ousted prime minister had started talking of undoing the Constitution. He said that the Constitution could not be amended to benefit an individual, and added that instead of making the Constitution subservient to an individual’s interest, there was a need to be subservient to the law itself.

Siraj-ul-Haq said that corruption had become an epidemic and had spread over all institutions and people holding high offices in the government were amassing wealth

because of their official position.

He said that Nawaz Sharif has been the most powerful tool in the corrupt system. He expressed the hope that the conviction of Nawaz Sharif would help control the menace to a great extent. The JI chief further said that Nawaz Sharif had been afforded several opportunities for his defence; no other person had been provided such concessions. He said that there should be a dialogue for wiping out corruption.

Meanwhile, he greeted the Akhwanul Muslimeen for their grand victory in the local bodies elections in Jordan.

PTI seeks answers from PEMRA on Nawaz’s ‘inciting speeches’ iSLamaBad INP

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s member National Assembly Khurram Saeed has written a letter to Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Chairman Absar Alam seeking answers over ‘inciting and derogatory’ speeches against the institutions by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Khurram, who is also the central deputy secretary general of the party, has asked the PEMRA chairman to provide the answers to the points he has raised in his letter

within seven days.

He has asked the PEMRA chairman to explain the airing of the ousted prime minister’s ‘derogatory and provocative speeches’ on various media outlets during his 'homecoming' rally. Every single speech that the ousted prime minister delivered throughout his rally from Committee Chowk, Rawalpindi to Data Darbar Chowk in Lahore were laced with poison against the institutions which are held respectable by the people.

Under the Constitution of Pakistan and the National Action Plan, no one is allowed to insult any insti-

tution, Khurram said.

How come PEMRA allowed a man ‘disqualified from politics for life’ to launch attacks on national institutions, Khurram asked in his letter to the PEMRA chairman.

He has further asked the PEMRA chairman why did he remain a silent spectator and sided with Nawaz Sharif in his adventurism against the national institutions.

Closing the letter, Khurram said that if he does not receive the answers to the questions he raised in his letter he reserves the right to approach the court for removing Absar Alam from his post.

THE SILENT SOLDIER them. Some years later, Zia told him that he had produced a miracle and there was nothing worthy of his achievements; only God could reward him.

General Akhtar was my superior, charged with devising, controlling and supervising the strategy to bring about victory in the field. Put in its simplest form, he was the strategist. At the outset, he was almost alone in thinking that the Soviet Union, with all its modern aircraft and armour, could be brought down by a few thousand poorly trained and armed Mujahideen. It certainly seemed an impossibility at the beginning.

As events were to show, he was right. Under his leadership, under his order and strategy, the communist menace was not only confronted but turned back—forced to retreat. Little wonder that the chief architect of this humiliation was on the top of the KGB’s hit list with a huge price on his head. Nevertheless, during the time that I knew him, he never wavered or showed concern at the danger but continued to press on with the Jihad.

I would venture to highlight two main areas in which General Akhtar’s influence was critical. The first was strategic. The whole concept of how to fight the war was his. He understood how even a guerrilla army can defeat a superpower in the battlefield if it applied the strategy of death by a thousand cuts.

Gradually, over the years, as the Mujahideen became better armed and trained, this strategy of avoiding direct confrontation, of concentration on soft targets, communications, supply lines and depots, brought about a full-scale Soviet withdrawal.

The second area of crucial influence was in the political and diplomatic field. I do not mean international politics or diplomacy, but rather internal affairs. General Akhtar seemed to me to be the only person able to bring about a degree of unity among the fractious Mujahideen political parties. Without that degree of cooperation, nothing of importance could be achieved on the battle field. He was able to unite, sometimes only temporarily I admit, leaders who were lifelong enemies. He was able to con-

Eisa Abdullah Al Basha Al-Noaimi also paid a farewell call on President Mamnoon Hussain.

The president said Pakistan was the biggest target of terrorism in the region but by the grace of Allah, this menace had been largely overcome. He hoped that it would speed up economic activity in the country. The president said strong Pakistan-UAE ties were a result of the vision of the founder of UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Commending the services of the outgoing ambassador, the president said he had worked for further deepening the relations between the two countries.

He conveyed his goodwill message and best wishes to the leadership of UAE. He appreciated that both countries were cooperating with each other in different areas and called for further enhancing this cooperation to benefit from the capability and expertise of each other.

Seven terrorists arrested in Punjab: ISPR rawalpiNdi: Security forces in Punjab on Wednesday arrested seven terrorists under the ongoing Operation Raddul Fasaad, said the Inter-Services Public Relations. The terrorists were arrested in search operations conducted by local police, Punjab Rangers and intelligence agencies across Lahore, Dera Ghazi Khan and Attock and were linked to proscribed organisations. Numerous Afghan citizens were also arrested in the sweeps, added ISPR. A sizeable quantity of arms and ammunition was also recovered during the raids. Pakistani security forces launched a nationwide military operation 'Radd-ul-Fasaad', which includes broad-spectrum security and counter-terrorism operations in Punjab, and continuation of ongoing operations across the country. STAFF REPORT

Pakistan to emphasise protection of snow leopards: Mushahidullah islaMaBad: Federal Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan has said that Pakistan, at the Bishkek Summit, will highlight establishment of a permanent set-up for protecting snow leopards in Pakistan. The minister was talking to Regional Director of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Aban Marker Kabraji, who called on him at Ministry of Climate Change on Wednesday. Mushahidullah Khan further said that climate change needs to be highlighted through Islamic teachings. He also assured to provide full support to IUCN for its projects.

Aban appreciated the efforts of Pakistan Navy for increasing mangroves forests in coastal areas. She also assured to extend IUCN support to establish a permanent office in Pakistan for snow leopard protection. STAFF REPORT

vince men who would not normally sit in the same room with each other to fight, together for the common goal of the Jihad.

An important part of his success was his ability to resist the ever-growing pressure by the US to run the war. Through the CIA, the US sought to control the clandestine supply pipeline, arms distribution, and the training of the Mujahideen. That they were not able to do so was entirely due to General Akhtar’s efforts. It was a major contribution to avoiding operational chaos.

Unfortunately, General Akhtar was removed from the ISI by a promotion he did not seek, just as the Mujahideen were on the brink of success. His tragic death a year later prevented him from witnessing the Soviet retreat from Afghanistan—the ultimate proof that he had won. I believe that Pakistan and Afghanistan owe a debt of gratitude to him. I certainly count it a great privilege to have served under the only general in Pakistan’s short history to have masterminded a victory in a major war and earn a name for his military genius. I salute him.

The Late Brigadier Mohammad Yousaf, was head of the Afghan Bureau of Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence from 1983 to 1987.

06 LAHORE

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

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PAT WOMEN’S SIT-IN

Qisas protest turns into na-120 election campaign LAHORE

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IHSAN QADIR

HE Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) women’s protest to get justice for martyrs of Model Town incident in Lahore on Wednesday, soon turned into electioneering for its candidate Advocate Ishtiaq Chaudhry.

The banners were seen inside the rally venue at the gate of Lahore Museum and at the entrance of the venue.

There were also banners on fences of Town Hall, DC Road, Nasir Bagh and Mall Road. The banners read: “Kon Badlay ga nizam…Tahir ul Qadri aur awam” (Who will change the system…

Tahir ul-Qadir and the people).

The Istanbul Chowk, DC Road, Mall Road and Town Hall where PAT arranged sit-in, falls in the NA-120 constituency where by-elections are due to be held on September 17.

According to the PAT spokesman, all the opposition parties have been invited to participate in the sit-in against the June 17, 2014, carnage in which 14

people were killed in Model town.

Talking to Pakistan Today, Fazal Begum, widower of Zahoor, who was killed in Model Town two year ago, said she has come to get justice for her martyred husband. “We want a revolution. We want an end to the repressive system in which we are unable to get justice. We will support PAT candidate so that we can get justice,” said Fazal Begum, who was participating in the protest rally along with her three children and other family members. She revealed that she was getting Rs 12,000 from Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahir Ul-Qadri to meet her routine expenditure, adding that Qadri has also given her a one-room house, along with kitchen and bath. She said she was conveyed by Qadir whether she was ready to get justice by staging a sit-in on The Mall Road and she ‘okayed’ his call.

Farhat Dilbar, along with her family, came from Faisalabad to participate in the rally. She said she had come to show solidarity with families of Model Town martyrs and wanted to change the system. “We have come to change the

system. We will ask our friends living in NA-120 to vote for the PAT candidate.”

Farida Ali Akbar, another participant of the rally, also made ‘similar’ comments.

In an interview with Pakistan Today, Advocate Ishtiaq Ch said he said he would not beg for votes in the rally. “The women’s only rally is purely for victims of Model Town and to make the Justice Baqir Najfi report public. It is not appropriate to ask people for a vote there”.

Meanwhile, all government departments remained open near the area where PAT women are staging a sit-in. However, there were few visitors in Lahore Museum and Punjab Public Library. The main gates of Punjab University Old campus, NCAA and museum were closed.

Students faced difficulty in getting admission forms from Old Campus of Punjab University. No classes were held at the old campus. The shuttle service between old and new campuses of Punjab University also remained suspended. According to the sources in the PAT, the women only sit-in is likely to continue overnight and a decision to continue or end it will be made on the

second day of the rally. Roads were closed from Lahore Museum to Istanbul Chowk for vehicular traffic. A heavy contingent of police has been deployed for the security of the participants.

Women and children were holding banners and placards which asked the Lahore High Court Chief Justice to set up a bench to review the Justice Baqar Najfi report on the Model Town incident. The banners also referred to martyrs of Karbala and asked the CJ to take notice for their sake. Children of those killed in the Model town were also carrying banners in English which read: “State is killing our mothers. Why is the state killing our mothers? Can the judiciary stop them? Why state terrorism?”

Leaders of different parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), PML-Q, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Sunni Ittehad Council and Majlis Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen have assured the PAT of their participation in the sit-in rally. The song played in Urdu and Pashto during the rally asked Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif to resign.

na-120 bypoll: ecp scrutinises 29 nomination papers LAHORE: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday scrutinised nomination papers of another 29 candidates for NA-120 by-election, being held on September 17. According to a spokesperson from the ECP, Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz’s (PML-N) candidate Kalsoom Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) candidate Yasmin Rashid have been issued notices for today for the scrutiny of their nomination papers. Nomination papers of Javed Yousaf, Muhammad Husnain, Jamil Asghar, Muhammad Munsif Malik, Muhammad Yaqoob Shaikh, Khalid Naik, Saifullah, Muhammad Khurram, Laiq-urRehman, Muhammad Zubair Khan Niazi, Sardar Hur Bukhari, Nasir Saleem, Zikrullah Mujahid, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Rana Zahid Hussain, Muhammad Ajasim Sharif, Muhammad Nawaz, Muhammad Waseem, Muhammad Hadi Shah, Zia-udDin Ansari, Pervaiz Akhtar, Qaiser Mahmood, Sumera Ali, Ameer Bahadur Khan, Mian Aziz-ur-Rehman Chan, Sarfaraz, Yasir Islam Shaikh, Liaqat Abbas and Ruhi Bano Khokhar were scrutinised on Wednesday, while papers of Kalsoom Nawaz, Yasmin Rashid, Andleeb Abbas, Zubair Qadir, Faisal Mir and Muhammad Nauman will be checked today. Candidates can appeal against the rejection of their nomination papers till August 21, and withdraw their papers by August 25. The ECP will issue the final list of candidates on August 26. APP

LAHORE: People visit Special Azadi Train upon its arrival at City Railway Station. ONLINE

Int’l consultative workshop held at PU LAHORE HAMZA REHMAN

The opening ceremony of a three-day international consultative workshop was organised in Social Work Department, University of the Punjab, to develop guidelines to launch diploma courses on NGO Management and Disaster Risk Reduction.

University of the Punjab Vice Chancellor Zafar Moeen Nasar presided over the ceremony. Social Director General Waheed Akhtar Ansari, Dr Zakria Zakir, Faculty of Behavioral & Social Sciences Dean Iqbal Chawla, Faculty of Arts Dean Dr Raana Malik and a large number of faculty members and students from Punjab University participated in the event.

Regional Head of Community World ServiceAsia (CWS), Marvin Pervez, along with other CWS

officials also graced the occasion. Social Work Department Chairman Dr Zahid Javed welcomed the participants and briefed the objectives of the consultation workshop. The vice chancellor appreciated the efforts of the department of Social Work in producing and developing skilled, trained and qualified human resources for the social sector of Pakistan.

He shared that Pakistan is a disaster prone country, facing frequent emergencies and natural disasters. He viewed that Punjab University should take a lead to establish an institute of Disaster Management and Emergency Services to crop competent labour force to deal with these calamities in Pakistan. He further valued the initiatives of the department of Social Work and encouraged the faculty to work with more zeal and zest to capture the market.

Seemal wants to blackmail me, says Basharat Raja LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League (PML) senior leader Muhammad Basharat Raja has said that Seemal Kamran is levelling allegations to acquire citizenship of USA and UK, and that her data with NADRA is registered with the name of her husband Kamran Bashir. Talking to media along with her wife Pari Gul Agha, son Behroze Raja and Muslim League leader Parveen Sikander Gill at his residence on Wednesday, he said that this matters is going on for the last four, five months but he has been ignoring it. "Seemal Kamran wants to blackmail me, at times posing as my legally wedded wife and at others, interfering in my personal life by making my family relations controversial. I am leading a happy life with my family; neither have I had a link with her before nor at present.” He asked the media representatives to check the ID card and passport of Seemal Kamran, which contain information regarding her husband Kamran Bashir; NADRA data also confirms this. He said that her claim of nikah with him is based on falsehood; two applications against her for blackmailing, falsehood, cheating and fraud are under process in the North Cantt Police Station and one case is pending in the Civil Court Lahore; two legal notices have also been sent to her through a lawyer, he said. STAFF REPORT

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Fidkew visits restored mosque in chowk Wazir Khan LAHORE APP

US Consul General to Lahore Yuriy Fidkew, on Wednesday, visited the recently restored Chowk Wazir Khan and the historic Wazir Khan Mosque. Chowk Wazir Khan, a seventeenth century Mughal architectural heritage, had lost its use as a community space and had been overtaken by the encroachers and turned into a parking lot, while the hujras on the eastern facade of the Wazir Khan Mosque were turned into shops. The US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) decided to restore and preserve the heritage in October 2015 and restored the architectural masterpiece in 2017 with US$ 1.2 million in funding. The restoration project included, returning the chowk to its original form by digging 2.5 metres to separate the existing street level and the original ground level of the forecourt of the chowk through archaeological excavations. A retaining wall was built to avoid future encroachments and to ensure a protective bulwark for the hujras. As part of the project, the Dina Nath Well, a public well located in the northeast section of the square, was also conserved while six metres of excavation in and around the well revealed historical construction from the Mughal and Sikh eras. Counsel General Fidkew, while talking to APP, said that the Chowk Wazir Khan had been returned to its original glory and would serve as a community space where people can meet before and after prayers, arrange religious sermons, or peruse handmade traditional merchandise sold in the hujras. He said restoration of the chowk would attract tourists for a more intimate look into the historic city. “Sites like the Wazir Khan Mosque are powerful symbols of culture and religion which provide an insight into the rich history of the subcontinent”, said Fedkiw, who would soon be leaving Lahore for another assignment. He said that AFCP was a US government-sponsored initiative to protect at-risk cultural treasures across the world and it had completed 19 projects, adding that Agha Khan Cultural Services, Pakistan, had preserved the site in collaboration with the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA). The US diplomat also visited different parts of the majestic Wazir Khan Mosque and expressed his deep liking for the architectural gem.

LAHORE 07

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

cm inspects Kidney centre in multan ALSO VISITS HOSPITAL, SCHOOL IN MUZAFFARGARH MULTAN

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ONLINE

UNJAB CM Shehbaz Sharif visited the Multan Kidney Centre on Wednesday during his two-day visit to Multan and directed hospital administration to provide 100 per cent free medicines to all patients.

While talking to a seminar held at Multan Kidney Centre, CM said that the formal inauguration of Institute of Kidney would be made within the next 3 months.

Our commitment is to provide best medical facilities to common people, he added.

Free medical treatment, along with comfortable environment will be given to all patients in the kidney centre, he held.

He said that more than 40 dialysis machines have been installed in the hos-

pital which are functional and patients are benefiting from without any fee.

He claimed that his government will provide abundant health facilities across Pakistan, especially southern Punjab, as their party is committed to serving the nation.

CM also obtained information from patients regarding health facilities during his visit to the hospital and also addressed their problems.

While expressing displeasure over complaints from patients for non-provision of free medicines, CM said that 100 per cent free medicines should be provided to all patients, adding that the hospital administration should reimburse patients who purchased their medicines from outside the hospital.

Citizens also demonstrated protest for non-provision of medical facilities in the

five police officials held for receiving kickbacks LAHORE RAN A HA ID ER

In Punjab Constabulary’s Abbas Police Line, situated on Bedian Road, upon accusations of bribes of Rs 15,000 per case being received and dozens of off-duty police officials being paid salaries on a regular basis, five officials including a line officer have been arrested; cases have been registered against them and Rs 1,000,000 worth of bribe money has been recovered, according to sources.

Punjab Constabulary’s commandant officer received information that Abbas Police Line’s Sub-Inspector Aurangzeb, Head Constable Asghar Ali, Faisal Mehmood, the IT in-charge Zulqarnain and Biometric Operator Saadiq, together formed a team, which allows several officials to stay home and be paid regular salaries, in return for a bribe of Rs 15,000.

This arrangement has been in place for a while. Commandant officer, upon learning about this, had secretly investigated the matter and realised that these officials are making close to Rs 100,000 every month from these bribes. In this regard, the commandant has suspended Line Officer Aurangzeb and appointed Zahid Muhammad in his place. Zahid had submitted a request for cases to be registered against the five colluding officials in the Defense Station, upon which, cases were filed with reference to 155-c and 162/163 and registered case no 343/17; bribe money worth Rs 1,000,000 was recovered as well.

According to case investigator Abid Ali, all five officials have admitted their wrongdoing.

A list is also being prepared of police officials who remained off-duty.

Further action will be taken against them subsequently.

kidney centre on the occasion.

Later, Shehbaz Sharif went to the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital, Muzaffargarh, and inspected extension project of the facility. He reviewed the progress of construction work and expressed his satisfaction. He said that with the completion of this project, the number of beds will be increased to 250 in the hospital.

Completion of extension project will result in the availability of quality and modern medical facilities to the people of the south Punjab, he added. He said that the hospital is providing modern facilities of treatment to the masses of the area. He directed that the construction work of the hospital be completed with speed and quality.

The chief minister also went to Emine Erdogan Danish Care Girls School in Baseera Town Muzaffargarh. He went to every classroom and talked to the girl students. He explained the philosophy of Quaid-e-Azam with the help of verses of Allama Iqbal. He also gave autographs to the children and wrote his words of wisdom.

Speaking on the occasion,

Azadi Train attracts people at Lahore Railway Station LAHORE APP

The Azadi Train entertained the local people at Lahore Railway Station with its striking features, which display the heroic struggle of national heroes, paintings and cultural floats.

The local people including youngsters, students, senior citizens and families, took a keen interest in the galleries and cultural floats of all four provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir.

The Azadi Train is plying across the country as part of the Independence Day celebrations.

The main objectives for running the Azadi Train were to highlight the aspects of Freedom Movement, to pay tribute to sacrifices of Armed Forces for the defence of the country, besides promoting the culture and heritage of the all the provinces.

Azadi Train would cover a long journey of thousands of kilometres in 15 days which started from Margalla Station on august 12 and would culminate at Karachi on August 25.

After a two-night stay in Lahore, the train will leave for Multan via Raiwind and after staying for a night or two at various stations including Khanewal and Sukkur will end its journey on August 25.

Azadi Train Officer Incharge Iftikhar Hussain said that the Azadi Train is receiving an overwhelming response from the people at every railway station.

He said that huge crowd was excited to have a glimpse of the beautifully decorated train.

Shehbaz Sharif said that Quaid-e-Azam had made one Pakistan for all. Unfortunately, Pakistan of the rich and of the poor has become separate and we are determined to remove this disparity. He advised the girls to work hard, with honesty and commitment.

He also said that this school is a living symbol of Pak-Turk friendship. He said that people of Pakistan have a great

love for President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Pakistani nation acknowledges his public services. He said that Turkey has supported Pakistan in every difficult time including natural disasters. He said that the new journey of Pak-Turk relations has started during the tenure of PML-N and these institutions are shining examples of the increasing Pak-Turk friendship.

08 FOREIGN NEWS

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

Trump defiaNT oN CharloTTesville uNresT: 'Blame oN BoTh sides' WASHINGTON

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strators.

The violent fracas ended in bloodshed when a 20-year-old suspected Nazi sympathizer, James Fields, ploughed his car into a crowd of anti-racism protesters, leaving one woman dead and 19 others injured.

In a rowdy exchange with journalists at Trump Tower in New York, Trump made clear on Tuesday that he was fed up with continued questioning about the issue.

“I think there is blame on both sides,” Trump said.

As he spoke, his new White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, a former Marine general, appeared displeased during the president's long tirade, standing rigidly.

“You had a group on one side that was bad, and you had a group on the other side that was also very violent. And nobody wants to say that, but I'll say it right now,” Trump continued.

AGENCIES

S President Donald Trump sparked another political firestorm on Tuesday when he doubled down on his initial response to the violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville that ended in bloodshed, saying there was “blame on both sides.”

The Republican president ─ who one day ago solemnly denounced racism and singled out the Ku Klux Klan and neoNazis as “criminals and thugs” ─ also hit out at the “alt-left” over the weekend melee.

Trump has faced days of criticism from across the political spectrum over his reaction to Saturday's unrest in the Virginia college town, where a rally by neo-Nazis and white supremacists over the removal of a Confederate statue erupted in clashes with counter-demon-

Three suicide attacks leave dozens dead in Northeast Nigeria NIGERIA AGENCIES

A team of three suicide bombers, including a female bomber detonated explosives near northeast city of Maiduguri in the attacks bearing the hallmark of Boko Haram. A female suicide bomber blew herself up and killed at least 27 others at a market in northeast Nigeria on Tuesday, two local officials said, in an attack bearing the hallmark of Boko Haram. Two more suicide bombers detonated their devices at the gates to a nearby refugee camp, wounding many people, an emergency services official said. The regional Emergency Agency said 45 people were "critically injured". The death toll could be as high as 30. In all, at least 83 people were wounded in the three explosions near the city of Maiduguri, the epicentre of the long-running conflict between government forces and Boko Haram. Nigeria's military last year wrested back large swaths of territory from the armed group. But they have struck back with renewed zeal since June, killing at least 143 people before Tuesday's bombings and weakening the army's control.

“What about the alt-left that came charging... at the, as you say, the alt-right?

Do they have any semblance of guilt? [...]

There are two sides to a story.”

'NO wOrDS': Trump's comments were immediately welcomed by David

Duke, a former “grand wizard” of the Ku Klux Klan and a key figure at Saturday's rally.

“Thank you, President Trump, for your honesty & courage to tell the truth about #Charlottesville & condemn the

Zambian opposition leader walks free in treason case LUSAKA AGENCIES

Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema was freed from prison on Wednesday after the state prosecutor dropped charges of plotting to overthrow the government, but a judge warned him he could be arrested again at any time.

Hichilema and five others were arrested in April and charged with treason after his convoy failed to make way for President Edgar Lungu's motorcade. His release could help defuse tensions in the southern African country, where Lungu imposed a state of emergency in July.

High Court judge Charles Chanda told Hichilema and his co-accused that the prosecutor had terminated the proceedings but their discharge was conditional.

"This is not an acquittal as you can be arrested any time over the same offence. For now you are free to go home,"

he said. Hichilema's supporters were jubilant, but he showed no emotion as he listened to the judge. He then drove from prison to the headquarters of his United Party for National Development (UPND) in an open-roof Toyota Land Cruiser and waved to supporters over the 5 km (3 miles) stretch.

In a speech outside the building, he called on the government to free several members of the party who are still detained over various charges.

"As of yesterday, some of our members were arrested. Even today, as I speak, others were arrested," Hichilema told hundreds of supporters, without giving details of the cases.

"Zambia's criminal justice system has broken down. I can't say I am free when our members are in detention," Hichilema said, adding "I am willing to go back to prison" if the arrests persisted.

Hundreds of people celebrated outside the prison, singing, dancing and

waving red and yellow UPND flags.

Others marched outside the party's headquarters, shouting Hichilema's name and punching the air in victory.

"It is good he is out, but sad that he has been released conditionally. We would have loved him to be acquitted," said Peter Simukonda, a 26-year-old University of Zambia student.

DISPUTED ELECTION: After the initial treason charge over the motorcade incident, Hichilema was later accused of plotting to overthrow the government.

The case has heightened political friction in Zambia, a major copper producer which is seen as one of Africa's more stable democracies, after a bruising election last year in which Lungu's Patriotic Front defeated Hichilema's UPND. Hichilema, an economist and businessman widely known as HH, mounted an unsuccessful legal challenge claiming

Conflicts in Syria, Iraq far from over despite Islamic State setbacks BAGHDAD AGENCIES

Despite recapture of swathes of territory from the Islamic State group, the conflicts in Iraq and Syria are far from over as their governments face major political challenges, experts warn.

In July the militants lost control of Iraq’s second city Mosul, in a major setback three years after declaring a ‘caliphate’ straddling the two countries.

Across the border around, half of IS’s de facto Syrian capital Raqa has been retaken by US-backed fighters. But divisions across political, religious and ethnic lines will again rise to the surface in Iraq after the extremist group is driven out of its last bastions, said Mathieu Guidere, an expert on terrorist organisations.

A month before Iraq declared the liberation of Mosul, the country’s autonomous Kurdish region announced plans to proceed with a referendum on statehood in September. The idea was not new but its timing was criticised by Baghdad, which opposes Kurdish independence, and by Washington, coming as it did with the anti-IS campaign still

leftist terrorists,” Duke tweeted.

But on the political left, the president's words were met with indignation.

“Charlottesville violence was fueled by one side: white supremacists spreading racism, intolerance & intimidation.

Those are the facts,” said Tim Kaine, a former Democratic vice presidential candidate and senator from Virginia.

The state's other Democratic senator, Mark Warner, tweeted: “No words.”

Trump's fellow Republicans also didn't mince words.

“We must be clear. White supremacy is repulsive,” Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan wrote on Twitter. “This bigotry is counter to all this country stands for.

There can be no moral ambiguity.”

And the condemnations also spilled beyond the political realm.

NBA superstar LeBron James tweeted: “Hate has always existed in America. Yes we know that but Donald Trump just made it fashionable again!”

unfinished.

Analysts said the referendum is one of the many challenges facing the Iraq government along with the presence of a Shia paramilitary force in Sunni-majority areas and the fate of minorities such as the Yazidis. How the government deals with these thorny issues will determine whether it succeeds in a post-IS era, experts said.

The IS group “is the illustration – violent, long and complex – of the dystrophy that reigns in Iraq”, said Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou, professor of International History at Geneva’s Graduate Institute.

Ould Mohamedou advocates a “new national covenant” for Iraq that would allow the Shia-dominated government to gain the trust of the Sunni population and other minorities, particularly in the northern Mosul region.

At the same time, the government will also have to skillfully deal with the paramilitary Hashed al-Shaabi, an umbrella organisation which is dominated

by Iran-backed Shia militias. Some of the components within Hashed al-Shaabi, which battled IS in Iraq, have for years

been sending fighters to support the Syrian regime in its conflict with various rebel groups.

Even as leaders in both Iraq and Syria savour the setbacks inflicted by their forces on IS, they still need to examine the reasons that led to the formidable rise of the militant group.

After declaring “victory over brutality and terrorism” in Mosul, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said there were “lessons to be learned” to ensure his country never again falls into the grip of IS. “Huge mistakes have been made,” he said.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad also faces huge challenges in the country’s multi-sided war, despite his forces being backed by allies Russia, Iran and the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah in the battle against militants and rebels.

IS fighters are steadily losing chunks of Raqa to the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF], a US-backed Arab-Kurdish alliance which broke into the northern city in June. A Russian-backed government offensive has also targeted IS forces in the central Syrian desert.

Analysts said that if Raqa falls, the

Kurdish fighters that dominate the SDF could clash with regime troops. Assad “does not want an autonomous administration” taking control of Raqa, said a Syria expert and geographer Fabrice Balanche.

Ould Mohamedou said the war in Syria “goes beyond the question of IS,” having erupted six years ago with peaceful anti-government protests that were brutally put down by the regime. “In the name of the fight against terrorism, more and more Western governments have closed their eyes to the massacres perpetrated by the Syrian regime,” he said.

The war in Syria has killed hundreds of thousands of people while millions more have been displaced in the two countries. Rebuilding infrastructure and restoring stability to allow the displaced to return home will be a massive challenge. The United Nations has said the level of destruction in Mosul alone is one of the largest and most complex challenges it has faced. Unless all these challenges are tackled, IS militants driven out of the territory in Syria and Iraq could re-emerge as a more brutal and formidable force.

the poll was rigged. His release could ease tensions in the run-up to elections in 2021, analysts said.

"It signifies the beginning of the reconciliation process, with the next elections being central," said Alex Ng'oma, a political science lecturer at the University of Zambia.

Government and legal sources had told Reuters on Sunday that Zambia's government would drop the treason charges and free Hichilema under a deal brokered by Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral Patricia Scotland.

Scotland visited Zambia last week and told reporters she had met Lungu and Hichilema separately and that the two leaders had agreed to a process of dialogue facilitated by her office.

In a statement, Scotland said she hoped the decision to drop charges would help Zambia "achieve political cohesion and reconciliation through dialogue".

Trump praises N Korean leader's 'wise' decision to halt Guam missile test WASHINGTON AGENCIES

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday praised North Korea's leader for backing off on plans to fire missiles toward the US Pacific territory of Guam. "Kim Jong-Un of North Korea made a very wise and wellreasoned decision. The alternative would have been both catastrophic and unacceptable!" Trump wrote on Twitter. Trump stunned the world last week by warning North Korea it faced "fire and fury" if it continued to threaten the US or its allies with its ballistic missile program. His impromptu comments while on vacation in New Jersey were interpreted as raising the prospect of a US nuclear attack against North Korea. The unpredictable and isolated North Korean leader on Tuesday had been briefed by his missile forces on a "plan for an enveloping fire at Guam," according to the North's official KCNA news agency. But afterward, according to KCNA, he decided to postpone the operation to "watch a little more the foolish and stupid conduct of the Yankees" and not to go ahead unless the US commits more "reckless actions." Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said after Kim postponed the threat that Washington remains ready for talks. But he added that would be up to Kim when such negotiations would begin.

FOREIGN NEWS 09

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

iNdia, ChiNa Troops iN hiGh-alTiTude Clash

monsoon floods kill 56 in indian state of Bihar

NEW DELHI

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BIHAR AGENCIES

In the northern Indian state of Bihar, floods have killed 56 people since Sunday and affected more than six million, said Anirudh Kumar, additional secretary in the state Disaster Management Department. More than two million people have been evacuated from their homes, Kumar told a foreign agency, and national disaster relief force teams have been airlifted in to help. Flooding has also killed at least 15 people in the northeastern state of Assam. India's meteorological department is forecasting more heavy rain today (Wednesday). Monsoon rains start in June and continue through September. They are vital for farmers in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh but cause loss of life and property damage every year.

eu urges Kenyan election commission to post all results online NAIROBI AGENCIES

European Union observers in Kenya have called on the election commission to publish all remaining forms showing vote tallies on its website to ensure the transparency and accuracy of the process. "The timing of such information being made public is critical given that petitions relating to the presidential race must be filed within seven days of the results announcement," the mission said in a statement on Wednesday. Andrew Limo, an election commission spokesman, said about 2,900 of the 41,000 forms showing results at individual polling stations were not yet online. President Uhuru Kenyatta was re-elected in the August 8 vote but opposition leader Raila Odinga has rejected results, saying they were rigged.

AGENCIES

NDIAN and Chinese troops clashed briefly on a disputed area of land in the Himalayas, officials said on Wednesday, exacerbating tensions during a months-long stand-off between the two armies.

Chinese troops threw stones at Indian soldiers near Pangong Lake, a major tourist attraction in the picturesque mountain region of Ladakh on Tuesday, an Indian defence official said.

He said Chinese soldiers had twice tried to enter the Indian territory but had been pushed back.

“There was a minor incident. There was some stone pelting from the Chinese side but the situation was quickly brought under control,” he told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The brief confrontation was resolved after Indian and Chinese sides retreated to their respective positions, he added.

Police in the north Indian state of

Jammu and Kashmir, where Ladakh is located, said clashes were relatively common along the de facto border known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

“These things happen every summer but this one was slightly prolonged and more serious but no weapons were used,” a police source in Srinagar told AFP. The Pangong lake area lies over

4,000 metres high on the Tibetan plateau.

The latest incident comes amid an ongoing dispute between the two sides over a strategic Himalayan plateau thousands of kilometres away where hundreds of Indian and Chinese soldiers have been facing off against each other for more than two months.

The border trouble began in June

when Chinese soldiers started to extend a road through the Doklam territory ─ known as “Donglang” in Chinese.

The area is disputed between China and Bhutan.

India, a close ally of Bhutan, then deployed troops to stop the construction project, prompting Beijing to accuse India of trespassing on Chinese soil.

China has said India must withdraw its troops before any proper negotiation takes place. India said both sides should withdraw their forces together.

The plateau is strategically significant as it gives China access to the socalled “chicken's neck” ─ a thin strip of land connecting India's northeastern states with the rest of the country.

The two nuclear-armed neighbours fought a brief war in 1962 in India's border state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Tensions along the LAC rose in 2014 when Chinese soldiers moved into territory claimed by India, sparking a two-week military stand-off that overshadowed a visit by China's President Xi Jinping.

Afghan police discover mass graves after village attack MAZAR-I-SHARIF

MOST OF VICTIMS WERE BEHEADED, EXCEPT FOR THREE BOYS

AGENCIES

Afghan police have discovered mass grave containing the bodies of at least 36 victims of a recent militant attack on a village, officials said on Wednesday.

One grave in the northern province of Sar-e Pul held 28 bodies and another contained eight, said provincial government spokesman Zabihullah Amani.

"Most of the victims were beheaded," he said, noting that all were men, except for three boys between the ages of eight and fifteen.

A third mass grave had been located but it was in an area under Taliban control, and security forces were searching for possible graves, Amani added.

On Wednesday, residents held funerals for several victims of the raid. At least 62 people have been confirmed dead in the attack on Mirza Olang village last week, with the number expected to rise, according to the Sar-e Pul governor’s office.

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission said a preliminary investigation suggested that militants from the Taliban and Daesh aka ISIS, who are normally bitter rivals, acted together.

That has been denied by the Taliban, who said they had carried out the attack alone and did not kill any civilians.

Daesh issued a statement on Monday claiming it

had led the attack and killed about 54 Shia Muslims, a minority group in Afghanistan that has often come under attack from Daesh.

Villagers who escaped from Mirza Olang told reporters they saw fighters carrying both the white banner of the Taliban and the black banner of Daesh.

In a region where bands of fighters often switch between different militant groups, it can be difficult to establish allegiances with any certainty.

China urges US, North Korea to 'hit the brakes' on threats BEIJING AGENCIES

China has urged the United States (US) and North Korea to “hit the brakes” on threatening words and work toward a peaceful resolution of their tense standoff created by Pyongyang's recent missile tests and threats to fire them toward Guam.

The dispute has also raised fears in South Korea, where a conservative political party on Wednesday called for the US to bring back tactical nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula.

In a sign of growing concern on the part of Pyongyang's only major ally, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, that the two countries should work together to contain tensions and permit no one to “stir up an incident on their doorstep,” according to a statement posted on the Chinese foreign ministry's website.

“The most important task at hand is for the US and North Korea to hit the brakes on their mutual needling of each other with words and actions, to lower the temperature of the tense situation and prevent the emergence of an August crisis,” Wang was quoted as saying in the Tuesday conversation.

The ministry quoted Lavrov as saying tensions could rise again with the US and South Korea set to launch large-scale military exercises on August 21.

“A resolution of the North Korea nuclear issue by military force is completely unacceptable and the peninsula's nuclear issue must be peacefully resolved by political and diplomatic methods,” Lavrov was quoted as saying.

China is North Korea's main economic partner and political backer, although relations between Beijing and Pyongyang have deteriorated amid the North's continuing defiance of China's calls for restraint.

In recent months, China has joined with Russia in calling for the US to suspend annual military drills with South Korea in exchange for Pyongyang halting its missile and nuclear tests as a first step toward direct talks.

On Wednesday, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Gen Joseph Dunford, continued a visit to China following talks the day before with his Chinese counterpart that touched on North Korea. No details of the talks have been released.

Dunford on Tuesday told Fang Fenghui, chief of the People's Liberation Army's joint staff department, that the sides had “many difficult issues” between them but were willing to deal with them through dialogue.

On Monday, Dunford was in Seoul to meet with senior South Korean military and political officials and the local media, seeking to ease anxiety while showing his willingness to back President Donald Trump's warnings if need be.

The US wants to peacefully resolve tensions with North Korea, but Washington is also ready to use the “full range” of its military capabilities, Dunford said.

His visit to Asia, which also will include a stop in Japan, comes after Trump last week declared the US military “locked and loaded” and said he was ready to unleash “fire and fury” if North Korea continued to threaten the United States.

North Korea's military on Tuesday

presented leader Kim Jong Un with plans to launch missiles into waters near the US territory of Guam and “wring the windpipes of the Yankees,” even as both Koreas and America signalled their willingness to avert a deepening crisis, with each suggesting a path toward negotiations.

The tentative interest in diplomacy follows unusually combative threats between Trump and North Korea amid wor-

CMYK

ries Pyongyang is nearing its long-sought goal of being able to send a nuclear missile to the US mainland.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, meanwhile, a liberal who favours diplomacy, urged North Korea to stop provocations and to commit to talks over its nuclear weapons programme.

Moon, in a televised speech Tuesday, on the anniversary of World War II's end and the Korean Peninsula's liberation

from Japanese colonial rule, said Seoul and Washington agree that the nuclear standoff should “absolutely be solved peacefully.”

He said no US military action on the Korean Peninsula could be taken without Seoul's consent.

North Korea's military said last week that it would finalise the plan to fire four ballistic missiles near Guam, which is about 3,200 kilometres from Pyongyang.

10 COMMENT

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

Forget nationalism, CPEC could do wonders for India as well

Running the government while acting as opposition Nawaz Sharif tees-up for disaster

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HERE is uncertainty in the country. Khaqan Abbasi has been appointed the new Prime Minister but there is no guarantee thathe will retain his office ifKalsoom nawazis elected next month from nA-20. Decisions abouta permanentPrime Minister, PML-n chiefand candidate for nA-120 have been made only to be reversedwithin days. Finance Minister Dar, who was the most powerful cabinet member after the Prime Minister, has been made to relinquish the chair of a number of major committees.Important cabinet ministers choose to attend daily meetings presided over by nawaz Sharif to planfuture rallies or discuss the strategy to win nA120giving little time to their ministerial duties.

The newcabinet faces a dilemma.While it is required to administer the country, nawaz Sharif wants it to play the role of the opposition. Abbasi is keen to prove that he can manage the country and look after the economy.He has thus taken over the key Economic Committee of the Cabinet (ECC) from Ishaq Dar. Abbasi has also emphasised the need to strengthen institutions. However being a party loyalist he is requiredto defendsome of the indefensible remarks by nawaz Sharif. It remains to be seen how long he can run with the hares and hunt with the dogs.

The country faces an aggressive India, ahostile Afghanistan and a demanding US. The situation requires a cohesion between all state institutions and the government. After conducting a four day long rally nawaz Sharif is planning other misadventures of the sort. In case he continues to malign the five Supreme Courtjudges and targetthe army things might turn up to be really nasty. A government can differ with institutions but has to press its point of view in closed door meetings instead of rousing the mobs against them.Statesmanship requires that nawaz Sharif calls off the schedule of rallies till the elections are announced meanwhilepursuing his petitions in the Supreme Court.

Tahir Ul Qadri’s sit-in And his questionable intentions

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HE controversial cleric and chief of PAT (Pakistan Awami Tehreek) Dr.Tahir Ul Qadri is yet again gearing up to hold a sit-in, this time in Lahore. After initially disregarding a Lahore High Court order to move his sit-in from the Mall Road, Qadri has agreed to hold it in the designated protest area of nasir Bagh.

The cleric has previously been successful in getting the Zardari administration to agree to a 90 day caretaker government prior to the 2013 elections. The agreement came after he paralysed the capital for three days.

The agenda for the latest sit-in is to get justice for the brutal broad daylight murder of 14 PAT workers in Model Town Lahore in 2014 that were gunned down at the hands of the Punjab police. Since the incident there have been no significant arrests and the JIT (Joint Investigation Team) report that followed absolved the Punjab Government from any wrongdoing.

Three years on, Rana Sanaullah – after being briefly removed – is still the Law Minister and the Chief Minister’s principal secretary at the time, Dr Tauqeer Shah was promoted as Ambassador of Pakistan in WTO (World Trade Organisation). This gross injustice has to be addressed properly rather than be swept under the carpet.

Tahir Ul Qadri’s motives have often been seen with suspicion as he is considered to be a man of the ubiquitous establishment. That notion becomes even more believable considering Qadri’s seasonal visits to Pakistan are usually during times of possible regime changes and elections not to mention his ability to add fuel to general political instability.

This time is no different, nawaz Sharif has been ousted, elections are around the corner and a very crucial by election is to be held in a few weeks. If the cleric truly wanted to play an active part in politics and get justice for his worker he would stay put in Pakistan and fight for it longer than a few months at a time. That for now seems highly unlikely considering his questionable intentions.

Dedicated to the legacy of the late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami Editor

Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Joint Editor Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

I

If we can all lay down the pitchforks, please For India, CPEC is no longer a means of economic recovery for Pakistan but a geo-strategic move by two nuclear armed neighbours to oust India’s influence from the region.

It’S about the money: With the emergence of CPEC it is becoming increasingly clear that India, rather than opposing it should also benefit from it. This belief primarily stems from the idea that most of the global trade is expected to pass through this region in the coming years. Both Chabahar and Gwadar are situated at the mouth of Strait of Hormuz region from which almost 17 billion barrels of crude oil pass daily.

Both of these ports are located at geo-strategic cross roads and offer trade links with Central Asia, Europe, and to the rest of the world.

The three nuclear neighbours have had unique relationships amongst each other, each of these have been aimed at increasing regional cooperation and geo-economic ties.

Rather than not being a part of it, worse for India could be to think of ways in outshining Gwadar Port through its own Chabahar Port. Various statements by Military General and Minister for Planning and Development have highlighted the momentous opportunity at gaining regional cooperation amongst the two countries provided India sees an opportunity in being benefitted from this corridor.

Chabahar is merely an alternate route for India to establish firm roots in Afghanistan via Indian Ocean, without having to cross through Pakistan. The same can be achieved for India through CPEC but India seems to have plans of its own when it comes to regional domination. economIc proSpectS: CPEC is a multi-billion dollar proj-

reMshay ahMeD

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HInK Schengen but for Asia. Think economic cooperation similar to what the EU has enjoyed for decades. If China’s One Belt, One Road initiative works, we’re looking at a whole new world of possibilities.

While China began this step with Pakistan through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), there is no reason for anyone to believe that this is where it will also stop. China has pumped $53 billion in Pakistan for CPEC; this includes various energy and infrastructural projects. As the two nuclear states get closer, the question of a third nuclear neighbour’s position hangs over Pakistan’s geo-strategic manoeuvres. India has openly showed its discontent over CPEC and its building of Chabahar Port in Iran is an indication of its competing interests in the region. At the foot of this development is pure potential – one that can be shared by many different countries.

Same old fearS: As the CPEC route within Pakistan is planned to pass through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, it is agitating India for fears of a Chinese stronghold in the area that would threaten its sovereignty in the region. An article in new York Times labelled this as a means of expanding nationalist agenda and swelling ambition of both countries. These two neighbours seem to be agitating at the narrowest border, over an unpaved road. Both see it as a form of other’s expansionist policies and India views China to be winning by establishing a stronghold in Pakistan and moving ahead into Kashmir as well.

ect, presently standing at $53 billion investment. While prospects for Chabahar also seem bright, it is no match for the corridor that CPEC is envisioned to be. CPEC has a natural deep sea port with the capacity to hold 300-400 million tons of cargo when completed, compared with 10-12 million tons that Chabahar can hold.

CPEC offers an alternative route to China to use by not landing itself in the conflict-ridden South China Sea. The sea route will shorten the distance and greatly reduce the costs for China both for its imports and exports. As the distance is shortened so will be the time for the transfer of goods from one point to another, thereby fostering China’s trade. This route is being constructed by China for its use and also to have the entire global volume of trade pass through this.

The same route can also be used by other countries that are a party to the CPEC as a means of benefitting from the project rather than fighting it. This means the economic benefits possible from this project will not only be reaped by China and Pakistan but by all countries who adopt this trade route. These will include various European countries which can trade with China via this route with reduced transportation costs and time. CPEC is hence a route that aims to connect the entire world from Asia to Europe and eventually to the Americas as well.

On the other hand Chabahar which is a tri-lateral agreement signed between Iran, Afghanistan and India has only a $500 million dollar investment by India which is minimal compared to the magnitude of investment by China. In terms of development funds and planning, Gwadar is seen as a decade ahead of Chabahar

already and India can’t compete with China in terms of investment or even manpower that it has committed.

Also India’s dream of trading through Afghan-Iran border will remain a dream for long as Afghanistan lacks the infrastructure and the governance appetite to stomach this project. On the other hand Gwadar only runs the risk of being completely jeopardised if the security situation isn’t curtailed and proper security infrastructure and personnel aren’t trained to combat any challenges they are faced with in this region. better together: The Strait of Hormuz is located in a region that connects Central Asia, South Asia and Middle East allowing for greater cooperation in all fields. To be able to extract full potential of this region it is fundamental that there are no competing forces in the region and all actors are equally engaged in working towards establishing this region as the central economic hub.

If India and Pakistan are able to benefit from this corridor, then the full benefits of this corridor will be realised and shared amongst Pakistan and India. It is, therefore, extremely important that all parties which can take a part in this, work closely together to benefit from the mega project that this is bound to become.

India should therefore, work towards achieving regional cooperation by putting aside its own agendas and if not being an active partner, it should at least benefit from this by working towards formulating economic linkages and cooperative relationships amongst its neighbours.

Remshay Ahmed is a political realist by profession and a pessimist by choice. She can be reached at remshayahmed95@gmail.com

Learning from liberation of China and America

Dr FariD a Malik

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n July this year, the people’ Library Army of China (PLA) celebrated its 90th founders’ day. It was this liberating force that defeated the nationalists on October 1, 1949 to form People’s Republic of China (PRC). Since then there has been no looking back. China today is second largest economy of the world and an emerging super power. Their recent military parade was very impressive that sent shivers across the world. PRC has the largest standing army on the globe.

Mao Tse Tung - the father of modern China believed that revolution comes through the barrel of the gun. In July 1927 he formed PLA to taken on the forces of status-quo. After 22 years of mobilisation and armed struggle his forces captured Beijing the capital city. The royal enclave was declared the Forbidden City while he and his able Prime Minister Comrade Chou-en-Lai shaped the new republic. The nationalists fled to the Island of Taiwan with their looted wealth.

Since its inception China has been ruled by the Communist Party. It followed a set plan of development and growth which has largely remained un-interrupted. There was some upheavals in the eighties and nineties but they were crushed. The famous ‘Tiananmen Square’ massacre being one of them. The so called democratic West has not been able to destabilise the country in the name of democracy and human rights. Indeed China is a miracle of the 20th century where human development of billions took place. It is the largest depository of trained and productive work force in the world today.

Like China, the United States too earned its freedom through an armed struggle. Battle lines

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9 Fax: 021-35381208

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were drawn against the colonists on the principle of no ‘taxation without representation’. Under the command of George Washington a rag tag army of Americans defeated the British Army and formed a new union called United States of America. They followed a different course. A democratic path was chosen. The rights of the citizens were protected through a written constitution. The entire colonial state and its institutions were dismantled. A Presidential form of government was adopted, where the head of state had to be elected both by popular vote backed by an electoral college with state wise allocation of delegates. Washington was elected as the first President. After two decades he stepped down, a tradition that has now become a part of the constitution Both China and United States are governed by national institutions, there is no colonial inheritance. In fact it is looked down upon. In China it is barricaded as the Forbidden City.

When Patton the last colonial governor of Hong Kong left for the airport his mansion was turned into a museum, no Chinese Chief Executive every lived there. In United States also there was no continuity. no Victorian acts or laws were carried on. Whereas the situation in Pakistan has been very confusing. Our path to freedom has been very bumpy and continues to remain so.

The important question is how will we transform these colonial institutions into national bodies? Lately General Pervez Musharraf - the fourth Khaki dictator - said that, “Dictators have brought development to the country while politicians have caused its derailment”. There is no truth in this statement. Most problems that the nation faces today have their origins in the misrule of these Khaki usurpers. General Musharraf should come and face the law if he is so sure of his services to the motherland. The worst of all have been the ‘Political Off springs’ (Siasi Bachay) of these dictators that continue to play havoc The recent verdict in the Panama corruption case is just the tip of the iceberg, lot more cleansing needs to be done.

After the promulgation of the unanimous constitution on August 14, 1973, Pakistan is now a constitutional democracy like the United States of America. All institutions and individuals are now bound to obey this sacred agreement between the people and the state. The laid down

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

processes have to be followed for the country to move forward. Colonial institutions have to be transformed. The judiciary went through this transformation when the people of Pakistan came to its rescue which resulted in its restoration Justice Asif Khosa was one of the judges who stood up against the dictator in 2007.

Primary responsibility of every national institution is to serve the nation not individuals. What we have today are two extremes. Example of Pakistan Army and Punjab Police are very apt. While the Army as a professional body protects its institutional interests the Police force serves the individuals at the helm and has become a private force. Police has to be de-politicised while the Army has to sever its colonial links and legacies.

Only genuine political leadership that emerges through a credible ballot can lead this transformation otherwise the nation will continue to suffer.

For completion of the journey to freedom the colonial links have to be severed. national institutions have to be formed and then protected.

Pakistan can learn from the transformation of both China and United States. Being a constitutional democracy like USA, Pakistan is poised to move in this direction. Power of the people has to recognised and respected but within a legal framework as defined in the constitution. no democracy can function without a credible ballot that is a first step towards freedom.

In our seven decades of existence we have been able to hold just one free and fair election in 1970. There have been ten farce electoral exercises since then. Pakistan started off well but then lost direction after the first martial law in 1958. Another credible ballot followed by honest political leadership can steer the country in the direction of real freedom as envisioned by the father of the nation. Leaders like Suhrawardy and Bhutto are needed to restart the process of nation building through strong national institutional framework to replace the personal and colonial remains as was done in China and USA, two super powers of the world today.

Dr. Farid A. Malik is ex-Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be contacted at: fmaliks@hotmail.com. http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk I

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

COMMENT 11

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

Editor’s mail

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Fostering financial inclusion, women entrepreneurship in Pakistan

America: a nation divided on Afghanistan …and old men in suits playing with young lives Waqar MasooD khan

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AST Thursday, President Trump said he was very close to making a decision on Afghanistan. John McCain - the ranking senator and chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee - is getting restless and wants immediate deployment of more troops. Ronald neumann, a former American Ambassador to Afghanistan, has surmised that the US is not winning because it has not done enough to build the capacity of the Afghan forces. Andrew Bacevitch, a Vietnam veteran and an authoritative voice on military history recommends early withdrawal.

From tentative poise to aggressive buildup, and from timid management to profound historical guidance for disengagement, it is open season in Washington for the new policy on Afghanistan. Let’s reflect on these divergent views.

The tentativeness of Trump administration is fully justified. The scepticism expressed by the President on the meaning and efficacy of the longest war in American history is fully justified. He did not support the war on his campaign trail. As early as in 2013, Trump had tweeted: “We should leave Afghanistan immediately. no more wasted lives. If we have to go back in, we go in hard & quick. Rebuild the US first.”

He was highly critical of the ‘nation building’ approach of his predecessors. Wary of expending more American lives, he even asked Secretary Mattis to hear out Bannon and Kushner on the proposal to contract out the increased troops without owning it. He would do a great good to American interests by adhering to his campaign promises on the subject of Afghanistan.

Ambassador Ronald neumann (Washington Post), who served in Afghanistan during 2005-07, has lamented that not enough resources and efforts were expended in building Afghan Security Forces (ASF) to face off AlQaeda and Taliban, which, according to him, was the main aim of the American strategy.

One is at a loss to understand the views expressed by a diplomat who otherwise has spent all his life in the Foreign Service and has held significant positions in many countries of the Middle East. Cursory research is sufficient to find out how colossal the failure of the project known as capacity building of ASF is. A CBS report in January 2016 reported that as many as 40 percent of the registered personnel may be Ghost Soldiers, and the basic reason why Taliban is winning increasing amount of territory.

John Sopko, the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR), in an interview to Daily Signal (Heritage Foundation) in April 2017 noted that in June 2016, there were supposed to be 319,595 soldiers but an Afghan official told AP the “best internal estimate” of

the real number was “120,000”. When interviewer quipped: This implies fraud, obviously, Mr Sopko replied: “Absolutely. Major fraud. And what’s happening is the commanders or generals or other higher officials are actually pocketing the salaries of the ghosts. And I remember President [Ashraf] Ghani, again, at that time he wasn’t president, saying, “John, you, the United States government, are paying the salary of an Afghan who’s a teacher, he’s a civil servant, he’s a doctor, he is a policeman, and he’s a soldier. And it’s the same Afghan. And he doesn’t exist.””

When it comes to morale and the will-tofight, there is equally damning evidence that ASF are no match to the spirited and highly motivated Taliban. They often sale their arms to Taliban and pay protection money to avoid combat. Accordingly, the very question of building capacity and numbers of ASF is meaningless.

Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham (Washington Post) have advocated a very aggressive approach and warned that a bill may be introduced in the Senate that would make the troop increase mandatory. Perturbed on ‘stalemate’ he relies on the assessment of the US commander in Afghanistan John nicholson (who was nearly fired by Trump a weeks ago) to argue that ‘not losing’ strategy should be abandoned. He uses SIGAR report to underline the loss of territory to Taliban but has overlooks numerous failures in the US reconstruction efforts, particularly in building the capacity of ASF. He claims the US objective remains the same as in 2001 i.e. to prevent terrorists from using Afghan territory to attack our homeland.

The article closes with the following advice: “The United States has been at war in Afghanistan for nearly 16 years. Weary as some Americans may be of this long conflict, it is imperative that we see our mission through to success. We have seen what happens when we fail to be vigilant. The threats we face are real. And the stakes are high — not just for the lives of the Afghan people and the stability of the region, but for America’s national security.”

It seems, Senator McCain, a Vietnam War veteran, has not learned any lessons from Vietnam. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, he continues to believe that the world’s biggest military power would win in Afghanistan, if adequate resources are provided. He would do well for America if listens to another Vietnam war veteran and the most renowned military historian, Andrew Bacevitch, who has titled his recent article (Washington Post) “Yes Congress, Afghanistan is Your Vietnam”. Like Senator McCain, his father and grandfather did not serve in the US Armed Forces but he has no less a distinction of sacrificing his only son in Iraq.

For Bacevitch, the parallel with Vietnam is stark. The first Congressional resolution for war, as required under the Constitution, was

sought in August 1964 after a misrepresentation of the Tonkin Bay episode where a US destroyer Maddox came under attack from north Vietnamese torpedo boats. Bacevitch has reflected on Senate Foreign Relation Committee (yes, it was the leading committee on the subject then, and not the Armed Forces Committee) headed by J. William Fulbright as it quizzed Secretary of State Dean Rusk, whose only defence was Tonkin Bay Resolution. While Senator Fulbright pushed back any suggestion for ownership of war, Senator Lausche had more profound observation to make: “For three years we have been arguing it, arguing for what purpose? Has it been to repeal the Tonkin Bay resolution? Has it been to establish justification for pulling out? In the three years, how many times has the Secretary appeared before us? Those hearings, those debates, in my opinion, have fully explored all of the aspects that you are speaking about without dealing with any particular issue. now, this is rather rash, I suppose: If our presence in Vietnam is wrong, [if] it is believed we should pull out, should not one of us present a resolution to the Senate[?] .... [Then] we would have a specific issue. We would not just be sprawled all over the field, as we have been in the last three years.”

Bacevitch then contrasts the situation in Afghanistan: Of course, the Afghanistan War (ostensibly part of a Global War on Terrorism) differs from the Vietnam War (ostensibly part of the Cold War) in myriad ways. Yet it resembles Vietnam in three crucial respects. First, it drags on with no end in sight. Second, no evidence exists to suggest that mere persistence will produce a positive outcome. Third, those charged with managing the war have long since run out of ideas about how to turn things around.

Senator McCain should take the high ground of bringing the conflict to an end. He is misrepresenting the US objective in Afghanistan. The aim in 2001 to expel AlQaeda. Taliban had not attacked the US, harboured no enmity with the US and neither do they have any international agenda. numerous high-ranking officials in various administrations have remarked that Taliban are not terrorists nor do they represent any threat to the US. When the momentous surge (140,000) of Obama days has failed to achieve a victory, what is the basis of Senator’s continued belief that few thousands more troops would make any difference in the final outcome. More disturbingly, forcing the administration to raise the troops level is akin to taking the direct responsibility of fighting a war, which is not the job of the legislative branch under the US Constitution and should be avoided by giving the President due space to make the right decision.

Waqar Masood Khan is a retired federal secretary.

LAST year, the Women’s Economic Participation and Empowerment status in Pakistan published by the Un Women, analysing various factors representing gender disparity, reported that the policies in Pakistan and subsequent initiatives merely focused on income generation rather than economic inclusion targets set for women. This kind of short-term focus results in one-off initiatives and greater unskilled employment rather than entrepreneurship or highly skilled jobs. The report also highlighted the financial inclusion of females, a sustainable solution, and associated it with the deeper inclusion of women in conventional economy, which would allow them to generate sustainable livelihoods.

Only 13% of women are able to borrow from a microfinance institution and merely 5% of women have a bank account and in Pakistan. This is because of the fact that a low percentage of women have ownership, joint or otherwise, of physical capital which is an important requirement by the financial institutions.

Greater access to formal finance can improve economic empowerment and allow an increasing number of women to participate in the formal economy. It can be argued that better financial access is both a cause and a result of economic participation, as more working class women signify better financial inclusion. Similarly, another report Financial Inclusion of Women in Pakistan 2016 - states that employment is often tied to banking, as wages need to be received. Hence, greater economic opportunity through employment or entrepreneurship can be a vital factor for the financial inclusion of women in our country.

The Un Women report recommends that there should be incentives for enterprises that have better women employment ratio, women decision makers or the woman owner of the enterprise. The report also recommends improving the ownership of physical assets, technical and management training, improved working conditions for women, and financial inclusion through supporting financial institutions like banks.

The report, Financial Inclusion of Women in Pakistan 2016, supports these focus areas and highlights mobility constraints, banking regulatory policies, property rights and collateral, and the financial literacy as a few factors impeding the financial inclusion.

In such a situation, targeted projects and special initiatives such as Karandaaz are trying to reinvigorate the industry and provide the missing technical and financial links in order to deliver financial services to women and others who are out of this financial circle.

KAIYAN YOUSAF Lahore

Stop smuggling from Taxila Museum THE museum of Taxila is one of the most celebrated museum in the country. It has priceless statues and antiques from the world’s most ancient civilisation (Gandhara). But for a decade or so, precious goods have reportedly been smuggled from the museum under the nose of the authorities. Custom officials have given free hand for the transportation of these antiques to other countries which are rightfully the property of Government of Pakistan.

Some dutiful officials on airport have foiled a major bid of smuggling Gandharan statues in recent days which is surely commendable.

The true negligence is on behalf of security officials appointed in Taxila museum. They are giving away the most priceless statues for a little sum of money. It is my plea to provide fool proof security to the museum to preserve the glory of our land.

ESHA BAKHT Islamabad

Rallies and responsibilities IT is a common observation that rallies are always the reason for the creation of disturbances among people. In cases, they can also result in loss of life. The recent rallies of the Ex-PM were the reason that a child and an old man lost their lives and numerous journalists and reporters were caught up in the riots and fighting.

I request that the ruling party avoid rallies but if they conduct them they should have protective security so people’s lives can be secured.

SULTAN M HASIL Lahore

Should have been in school IT is appalling to witness the inclusion of minors in public demonstrations and political rallies. These events are not secure for adults, let alone children.

And that parents and legal guardians will not only allow their wards to participate, but will bring young children along with them is utterly irresponsible. It smacks of neglect of a near criminal nature and should be banned immediately.

KHAWAR REHAN Lahore

12 WORLD VIEW

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

GO NETANYAHU, GO – FOR YOUR SAKE AND ISRAEL’s Jerusalem Post

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GIL TROY

SRAEL is enduring a moment of split-screen governing. Side by side, headlines report Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planning unprecedented visits to South America in November and his opponents anticipating his imminent indictment.

It’s time for Netanyahu to go to his Caesarea retreat and think. He should think about his character. He should think about his actions. He should think about his legacy. And he should think about his people and his nation.

If Netanyahu and his wife are innocent of the mounting allegations against them, he is behaving appropriately. If he really stayed within the law while accepting boxes of cigars and cases of champagne, he shouldn’t quit. He should hold his ground if he really knew nothing about the submarine deal, which, more than a putrid story of bribery, threatens the state’s security by wasting money on unnecessary purchases and by exposing these superfluous submarines to Iranian chicanery through the Revolutionary Guard’s investment in the German manufacturer ThyssenKrupp.

If innocent, Prime Minister Ne-

tanyahu is morally obligated to champion the rule of law against the media lynch mob. Israel needs him to defend the principle of electoral legitimacy and stop the criminalization of politics. Our Gotcha Age is bad for democracy. Politicians should be defeated by voters at the ballot box, not slander on the Internet and in the press. We should argue prime ministers out of office, not indict them.

Yet, guilt is like pregnancy – it’s all or nothing, you either are or you’re not.

If he’s just a little bit guilty of any of the crimes of which he is accused, Netanyahu should resign gracefully – and quickly.

Here, President Reuven Rivlin, a man of great integrity, can help.

If Netanyahu is guilty, we need him out of office, not in jail. Israel has already proved its willingness to imprison its highest leaders when necessary. I will not object if Netanyahu’s lawyers negotiate a blanket pardon from President Rivlin in return for Netanyahu’s resigning forthwith.

If Netanyahu is guilty the country needs to be spared a lengthy, bloody political battle that will trash his reputation – and rock Israel’s justice system.

If Netanyahu is guilty let him retire gracefully with some credibility intact.

If Netanyahu is guilty he will remain

one of Israel’s most respected experts on national security issues, on the Iranian threat, on the new alliance with the Sunni countries; why abandon that too?

Our Age of Gotcha, with self-righteous media types calling for our leaders’ heads, has also spawned the Age of Chutzpah, with self-indulgent leaders denying guilt, refusing to quit, stirring partisan emotions, even when caught.

It didn’t start with US President Donald Trump, who survived humiliating campaign revelations that would have felled less egotistical and more self-critical characters.

America’s King of Chutzpah was Bill Clinton. Clinton was not just guilty of conducting an affair with a 22-year-old intern, he was guilty of obstruction of justice. Yet first he denied the affair, publicly, aggressively.

Then, when caught by DNA evidence, he claimed it was personal, irrelevant, and, besides, everybody does it. As media and Republican attacks mounted, Clinton pulled the ultimate ju-jitsu move, demonizing Kenneth Starr so brilliantly that the presidential defendant became the accuser and the government prosecutor became the accused.

Clearly, Clinton’s strategy – and now Trump’s – shaped Netanyahu’s performance last week, rousing Likud partisans.

From Netanyahu’s perspective, these tac-

tics worked for others, they should work for him, too. Looking closer to home, he sees the resurrected yet apparently unreformed Arye Deri and others still masquerading as public servants and thinks, “anything they can do I can do better.”

But here’s the key: Clinton survived but his scandal hurt America. Trump won but he sullied democracy. Netanyahu may now subject Israel to months of political paralysis, leaving years of increased cynicism as his legacy. If he is innocent, it’s a valuable battle to fight. But Netanyahu knows if he is guilty or innocent. And if he is guilty, this man who has repeatedly warned the world about the threats Israel faces must avoid threatening his country’s democratic legitimacy and national security.

Leaders in parliamentary systems rarely know how to retire gracefully.

They tend to forget that, as in show business, you want a strong finish. Final impressions are lasting.

Israel’s prime minister is a prince of the Jewish People, who should be setting a high standard of conduct. If Netanyahu lapsed, many of these alleged crimes are so petty as to be both laughable and forgivable. But if he indulges his ego, paralyzes the country, then leaves in shame, his many accomplishments in office will be forgotten, his patriotism will be doubted, his name will be mud.

The Ethics of the Fathers admonishes: “Pray for the government’s integrity, for without it, people would devour their neighbors.” Instead of thinking “how can I prolong this, inflicting maximum damage on my opponents” – harming the political system – and, we learn, society too, it’s time for Netanyahu to think, “how can I salvage this, minimizing the harm to the system and to my reputation?” And, if he retires, let him pick a successor wise enough to understand that when in public service you serve others – retirement at that level offers more than enough opportunity to cash in.

The time has come to restore our leaders’ moral credibility and the people’s faith in their integrity and the system itself. Go Netanyahu go.

The writer is the author of The Age of Clinton: America in the 1990s. His forthcoming book, The Zionist Ideas, which updates Arthur Hertzberg’s classic work, will be published by The Jewish Publication Society in Spring 2018. He is a Distinguished Scholar of North American History at McGill University.

Pakistan's search for its place in Southern Asia's evolving order War on the rocks SANNIA ABDULLAH

Southern Asia’s evolving geopolitics are leading to the intensification of the China-Pakistan nexus, a development that has been greeted in Pakistan with exuberance.

Although the China-Pakistan “all-weather” friendship goes back decades, there appears to be in recent years a greater willingness in Islamabad to air frustrations with the United States while embracing China as the “cornerstone” of Pakistan’s foreign policy. Much of this is in response to the deeply entrenched perception in Islamabad that Washington is tilting inexorably toward New Delhi. The Trump administration’s recent condemnation of cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan and its potential designation of Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism are lending credence to the notion that Washington is once again on the verge of abandoning a longtime partner. The shifting allegiances on the subcontinent have pushed Pakistan into the arms of China, even as it questions the value of its relationship with the United States.

Since India and the United States signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement in 2005, Pakistan’s response to perceived American slights has been to cry foul. While there may be some merits to Pakistan’s position, its responses to these exogenous shocks have been dictated by emotion and incredulity. If Pakistan is to navigate the evolving strategic environment in South Asia and compete for its interests effectively, it must adopt a more calculated, clear-eyed approach. This process must start with honest assessments of Pakistan’s strategic environment, what it might stand to gain or lose from spurning other powers (including the United States), and how to avoid provoking its neighbors into aligning with India. Pakistan needs to re-evaluate its tendency to antagonize the United States, avoid reflexive escalation vis-à-vis India, and be more honest with itself about the limitations of its Chinese partnership.

Pakistan’s raison d’etre has been to prevent Indian domination and seek regional hegemony. Since Pakistan’s dismemberment in 1971 and India’s nuclear test three years later, Islamabad has focused on the interrelated strategic objectives of maintaining a robust military capability to deter Indian aggression, preventing Indian meddling in Balochistan and Sindh, and curtailing Indian influence along its northwestern frontiers. These expansive strategic objectives have required cultivating close ties to powerful patrons — both China and the United States — as a way to balance against Indian and Indianaligned threats on Pakistan’s frontiers. Although Pakistani diplomats have never quite succeeded in getting their American counterparts to see Pakistan as the “pivot of the world,” they have extracted as much as possible from the U.S. relationship. Washington has provided Islamabad more than $30 billion in direct economic and military assistance, most of which was appropriated after the 9/11 attacks to reimburse Pakistan for its counterterrorism assistance. The United States has also used its hefty influence in the international financial system to help Pakistan secure debt relief as well as generous aid packages from the International Monetary Fund.

During the Cold War, Pakistan in its strategic calculations consistently perceived the United States to be a reliable patron. The invocation of the Pressler Amendment in 1990 forever altered Islamabad’s view of Washington. The Pressler debacle, which resulted in the

suspension of U.S. aid to Pakistan until 2001, fed into a sense of betrayal and the perception that the United States was, at best, a fickle ally. This trust gap was reaffirmed from time to time with the Abbottabad raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound, the Salala incident, and the Raymond Davis controversy. More recently, tensions have stemmed primarily from Pakistan’s inability or unwillingness to end its support to the Haqqani Network, which Washington assesses to be the most lethal actor in Afghanistan. In 2016, the United States withheld $300 million in military aid and declined to extend a loan to Islamabad to finance the purchase of additional American-made F-16s. Influential voices, including some on Capitol Hill, have called on the Trump administration to adopt a tougher line with Pakistan by considering revoking its status as a major non-NATO ally and, potentially, designating it as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Such strong-arming is unlikely to alter Pakistan’s strategic calculus, but it should at least force a frank evaluation of what Pakistan gains from the U.S. relationship and, therefore, what it stands to lose. Some in Pakistan’s power corridors appear to have concluded that there is not much reason to comply with coercive threats from the United States because Pakistan has little need of American assistance. This is too narrow a view.

For one, while American aid dollars may be insufficient leverage on their own, U.S. ties generate billions for the domestic economy every year via foreign investment, remittances, and trade. For another, the United States seems likely to maintain a presence in Afghanistan for some years to come. Even if the Trump administration reverses course and orders a precipitous withdrawal, it is far from clear that Pakistan would benefit, particularly if India or Iran move to fill any security vacuum. Nuclear security cooperation is another reason Islamabad would be wise to avoid a complete rupture in its relations with Washington. Such assistance enhances Pakistan’s image as a responsible nuclear steward while reducing the risks of accidental or unauthorized use.

While hopes of any strategic alignment with the United States may have been dashed, Pakistan can still reap rewards from Washington by lowering expectations, reducing diplomatic friction, and remaining open to collaboration when doing so advances its interests.

Pakistan could dramatically improve bilateral relations by expanding its counterterrorism efforts to include those actors who threaten American interests in the region, rather than focusing exclusively on those who target the Pakistani state.

Pakistan has further isolated itself through its counterproductive responses to warming relations between New Delhi and Washington. When India and Pakistan tested nuclear weapons in 1998, the United States imposed sanctions on both countries, but also engaged India in a strategic dialogue aimed at resolving decadesold grievances. This dialogue set the stage for the waiving of sanctions and the effective negotiation of the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal, which granted India a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the right to engage in nuclear trade with NSG members without having to implement comprehensive international safeguards as a precondition.

Islamabad has stridently opposed Indo-U.S. strategic convergence, particularly the civil nuclear agreement. Pakistan seems to have been under the impression that Washington would grant it a similar deal. When these hopes did not materialize, Pakistan charged that

the granting of an NSG waiver to India was proof of a discriminatory approach to nonproliferation and blocked further negotiations of the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty. The United States, Pakistani diplomats argue, failed to appreciate that the Indo-U.S. deal would be seen in Pakistan as exacerbating fears of strategic encirclement and instability. The New Delhi-Washington accord has also been trotted out as a justification for Pakistan’s shift to a posture of full-spectrum deterrence and corresponding embrace of tactical nuclear weapons.

There are at least three problems with Pakistan’s response to the deal. First, the agreement has not been as effective as Pakistan has portrayed it to be. While it is true that the accord appears to have had a positive impact on Indo-U.S. relations, its implementation has been mired in disputes regarding the legal liability of American companies and appropriate mechanisms to track U.S.-supplied fissile material. Westinghouse, which had planned to sell six nuclear reactors to India, filed for bankruptcy last year. Second, leaving aside whether the deal was discriminatory, Pakistan’s apparent willingness to escalate a conventional conflict with India to the nuclear level via tactical nuclear weapons — a move it blames on the accord — is undermining Pakistan’s ability to convince the international community that it is a responsible nuclear steward. Full-spectrum deterrence poses a related problem: a “commitment trap” whereby Pakistan’s international standing and, perhaps, existence as a state are risked in a bid to maintain credibility. Finally, Pakistan’s new, escalatory posture may be encouraging India to believe that a preemptive strike against Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal might be warranted in certain scenarios.

None of this is to say Pakistan’s concerns regarding the deal are illegitimate or do not add to its security burden. The point is that the way in which Pakistan responds to these challenges matters and, so far, its responses are giving India an upper hand.

The STraTegic Troika (india-iranafghaniSTan): Pakistan’s bilateral relations are trending downward with Iran and Afghanistan in addition to India and the United States. This is due to the increasing perception in Islamabad of a strategic troika — hatched in New Delhi, and involving Afghanistan and Iran — to encircle Pakistan and limit its strategic options in its near abroad. Several factors are contributing to this perception. New Delhi’s pledge of $1 billion in assistance to Kabul last year is the latest indicator of rising Indian-Afghan economic and political ties. India is also considering a modest $50 million military aid package to repair broken Afghan aircraft. Tensions along the Afghan-Pakistani border have been escalating. Iran has attacked border guards in Pakistan and threatened to strike militant safe havens as well. Furthermore, India is pursuing more direct strategic engagement with longtime Pakistani allies in the Gulf such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Most alarming to Pakistan is India’s investment of $500 million in the construction of the Chabahar Port, which envisions a transport-and-trade corridor stretching from Iran to India via Afghanistan and Central Asia, rather than through Pakistan. The deal, concluded in 2016, could give India access to Iranian crude oil and natural gas in addition to energy supplies in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and other Central Asian states.

Pakistan sees India’s participation in Chabahar as a strategic move that could threaten the security of the deep-sea port at Gwadar, which Pakistan has developed

alongside China. The Beijing-Islamabad cooperation on Gwadar has been hailed as a “masterstroke” undermining India’s ability to enforce a commercial or naval blockade against its smaller rival. It is far from clear, however, that an Indian presence at Chabahar spells doom for Pakistan. Experts have raised doubts about Chabahar’s economic viability, particularly due to the logistical and security challenges of moving high volumes of goods through an Iran-Afghanistan corridor.

Western companies are unsure whether the Trump administration will impose new sanctions on Iran and, consequently, are hesitant to do business with the Indian firm managing the port’s construction. It is exceedingly unlikely, moreover, that the Iranians would invite the U.S.-aligned Indian Navy to station ships at Chabahar.

Doing so could risk antagonizing Beijing, on which Tehran depends for more than $50 billion in annual trade and the anti-access/area-denial platforms it needs to protect its shores from U.S. coercive capabilities.

This troika of mutual interdependence among Afghanistan, India, and Iran was not part of Pakistan’s strategic calculations, but was made inevitable by Pakistan’s policies towards these three countries. Islamabad would be wise going forward to anticipate New Delhi’s competitive responses to Gwadar and other initiatives to avoid making India’s alleged encirclement strategy even more attractive to actors in the region. Pakistan cannot afford to pursue tit-for-tat responses to every Indian action in Southern Asia. Nor can it afford to antagonize all of its neighbors. Instead, Pakistan should embrace the logic of economic interdependence, which could expand its strategic options and improve its ability to cope with Indian maneuvers.

Fueled by mutual antipathy for India, Beijing and Islamabad have engaged in strategic cooperation for decades, with China even providing Pakistan with bomb designs and ballistic missiles for the latter’s nuclear weapons program. Recently, Pakistan has welcomed its deepening partnership with China, but there are already signs of challenges ahead. There is hope that Beijing’s pledge to invest $46 billion via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor — the “flagship” of China’s Belt and Road Initiative — could result in dramatic improvements to Pakistan’s energy and infrastructure systems. However, let’s not kid ourselves: The arrangement is weighted heavily in favor of Chinese national interests, such as boosting regional development and alleviating excess capacity. The initiative could lead Pakistan into a “debt trap.” The Chinese, eager to protect their investments and laborers, may also constrain Pakistan’s choices in a future crisis with India.

Rather than put all its eggs in the China basket, the prudent path for Pakistan is to keep open as many strategic options as possible. This means, first and foremost, coming to an acceptance of what it gets out of the U.S. relationship and maintaining a hedge should China become a less reliable partner. It requires understanding the limitations of the Indo-U.S. strategic convergence, not overhyping it. It also demands carefully calibrating Pakistan’s pursuit of security visà-vis its neighbors to avoid security dilemmas and competitive spirals that leave it worse off in an increasingly competitive, uncertain environment.

Dr. Sannia Abdullah is lecturer in the Department of Defense and Strategic Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University. She is a Stanton Nuclear Security Post-Doc Fellow for 2017-2018.

LEISURE 13

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

Accept any help offered to you, especially in the professional realm. Getting introduced to an influential executive could set your career into orbit. This bigwig admires your pioneer spirit and will offer to fund a bold project.

Being able to launch your own business will be a dream come true.

You're starting to see the benefits of your hard work. A grateful romantic or business partner will take you out to celebrate. Although there is still much to be done, it's important to pause and enjoy this moment of victory. Continuing to grind your gears will result in burnout.

You're about to reach a new level of professional success.

If you're offered a promotion, don't hesitate to accept it. The prospect of assuming more responsibility fills you with fear.

Push past your anxiety. You've always been a fast learner.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

Staying focused on your goals is critical. There are a lot of distractions swirling around you, threatening to break your stride.

Be willing to delegate small tasks to colleagues, relatives and neighbours.

You have to pour most of your energy into realising this dream.

A joyful celebration will take place. Your family has received happy news and will come together in a spirit of harmony. This poses a good opportunity to mend broken fences with a relative. You shouldn't feel pressured to make amends if this union feels toxic.

Things are darkest before the dawn. Although your financial situation looks bleak, it's actually improving. A chance to make more money will soon fall in your lap. Explore opportunities to sell your handiwork at a local boutique, market or gallery.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Don't be stingy with your resources.

Help someone who is struggling to make ends meet.

Although you'd rather use these funds for creature comforts, you recognise you will do just fine without them. Instead of offering this sum as a loan, give it as a gift.

Hard work yields impressive results. It's time to put your nose to the grindstone. You'll have to cancel personal plans to meet an impending deadline. Fortunately, your nearest and dearest will understand. They know you are toiling for their benefit.

You have more financial options than you realise.

Stop clinging to a dead end job. Cast your net for other employment opportunities. Working for a government agency, hospital or university could be rewarding.

People will appreciate your boundless optimism and ingenuity.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You would welcome the chance to establish financial security. Having another source of income that is separate from your job will be reassuring.

Ventures involving recycling, energy conservation and antiques restoration will be lucrative.

It's time to get serious about your career. Although you'd rather focus on social pursuits, it's critical you find a line of work that has personal meaning. This may require getting a degree or license.

Do whatever is necessary to get these qualifications.

People come to you for comfort and understanding. It's great to be needed. Taking care of a sick friend will be a welcome change of pace. Instead of trying to race through lists of chores, you'll be able to slow your pace.

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14

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

ARTS

Visitors flock to Belgium's giant omelette festiVal despite scandal MALMeDY

a

Agencies

BOUT a thousand people flocked to the small Belgian town of Malmedy on Tuesday to eat a giant omelette made of 6,500 eggs, despite the country being at the centre of a scandal involving tainted eggs.

Belgium became the first country last month to officially notify the EU's food safety alert system of the presence of eggs contaminated by the insecticide fipronil, followed by the Netherlands and Germany.

The insecticide, which can harm human health, has since been discovered in eggs in 14 other European countries since the scandal came to light on August 1 and has even been found as far afield as Hong Kong.

It has forced millions of eggs to be removed from supermarket shelves and the closure of more than 150 farms in the Netherlands.

"We were hit full-on by the tainted eggs scare," Rene Bourguignon said as he waited to prepare the omelette.

While at least 1,000 people braved rainy skies to get a bite, the turnout was far below last year's record 7,000.

The local branch of the World Giant Omelette Brotherhood has been organising the festival in Malmedy for more than 20 years.

It spent a week preparing for this year's

Hand-painted ads take NY back in time neW YORK Agencies

culinary opus, collecting 6,500 eggs from carefully selected places instead of the usual 10,000.

"We have total confidence in our local products, our suppliers are local and they fulfilled every health guarantee we asked of them since the beginning," Bourguignon said.

The number of attendees was a good sign, the Brotherhood's "grand master," Jean-Pierre Gilles said.

"Of course, the public may have had its doubts and we did fear that a little, but seeing the numbers of people we saw today, I think it all went very well," Gilles said.

"Any doubts were swept away by friendship and warmth."

Made simply with eggs, bacon, oil, and chives, and cooked over a wood fire, the omelette has been a fixture of the annual festival since the 1990s when Belgium was hit with a similar scandal – over chicken and eggs contaminated with dioxin, a known carcinogen.

Traces of fipronil found in the contaminated eggs are at very low levels.

"The media said you needed to eat eight eggs a day" for the insecticide to affect your health, local volunteer Gabiche Chleck said.

"Personally, there's no way I could eat all that."

Climate change means more rain but less water in rural rivers: study Agencies Soaring temperatures driven by climate change are whipping up ever-more intense storms inundating cities with flash floods but leaving the countryside and crucial agricultural land parched, an Australian study has found.

Researchers at Australia's University of New South Wales (UNSW) found that while hotter weather sparked heavier storms leading to floods in built up areas, it also reduces moisture in the soil, which then quickly ab-

sorbs any excess and reduces water flow in rural rivers.

"So when the big rainfall events... do fall, a bigger proportion of them are stored up in the soil, so you have a lesser proportion coming out as flows," UNSW professor of hydrology Ashish Sharma told media agencies Tuesday.

Experts say decreases in waterways in farming areas threatens agriculture and food security, requiring urgent attention amid a forecast rise in the global population by 23 percent to nine billion over the next two

decades.

Meanwhile, they point out that city infrastructure is struggling to cope with the harsher downpours, with flood damage worldwide costing more US$50 billion in 2013 -- a figure expected to double in the next 20 years.

"It's a double whammy," said the paper's lead author Conrad Wasko from UNSW. "People are increasingly migrating to cities, where flooding is getting worse. At the same time, we need adequate flows in rural areas to sustain the agriculture to supply these burgeoning urban populations."

Once outdated relics in a digital world, painted advertisements are flourishing once again in New York, putting a dose of hip attitude into 21st century commercial art in the city that never sleeps.

Toiling under the blazing sun of a heat wave, Justin Odaffer puts the finishing touches to a Ray-Ban ad he has spent several days painting on the facade of an East Village building in downtown Manhattan.

For the past seven years, Odaffer -- who has a degree in fine art - has painted ads on walls in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago for Colossal Media, which has risen from nowhere to become the leader in painted advertising.

"Basically we created a revival," says Odaffer. Without the company he works for, he believes painted ads would be hanging "by a very thin thread."

But setting up the company in 2004 was a leap of faith, admits Paul Lindahl, co-founder of Colossal, which is based in Brooklyn´s hipster hub of Williamsburg.

"Technology was taking over and there was really no need for hand painting at the time. Nobody cared," says Lindahl, who comes from a family of Hungarian immigrants.

"It was expensive. It was slow," he concedes. "I didn´t know if there was a future in it at that point. I just knew that I loved it."

Thirteen years later, his company has 70 employees, paints 450 to 500 murals a year in major US cities and is eyeing sales of $24 million in 2017.

Even though painted ads take

longer and cost more, they offer advertisers a unique opportunity to set themselves apart.

Seeing painters in action can generate buzz on street corners.

"People are astonished," says Odaffer. "That´s why this company has done so well. It´s because people can actually watch the process."

But is it art?

That buzz carries over onto social media, fueled by photographs and videos which enhance brand visibility and advertising, says Lindahl.

"That brings value to what we do. What we realised along the way is yes, this thing takes longer than a digital ad or print ad but that´s part of the benefit. It´s performance art. People stop and they wonder and they´re intrigued."

Chris Cockerill, general manager of the New York office for Lamar Advertising, one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in the world, agrees -- even if the growth still accounts for a fraction of the overall market.

"We´re seeing more around the city. It´s a unique product that advertisers are asking for now. In the past, it´s been something a little more difficult to sell," he says.

Lamar does not work with Colossal.

Lindahl attributes the growth to multiple factors -- luck, timing, the "do-in-yourself" trend and the enduring popularity of street art.

Colossal secures its own walls and real estate, which means it can sell a package to advertisers with space and the painted ad without having to depend on another advertising company.

But are commercial ads really art? Odaffer says definitely.

'Missing link' bolsters bold theory on dino evolution Agencies An oddball, vegetarian dinosaur with the silhouette of a flesh-ripping velociraptor, whose fossilised remains were unearthed in southern Chile 13 years ago, is a missing link in dino evolution, researchers said Wednesday.

A revised assessment of the kangaroo-sized Chilesaurus, reported in the journal Biology Letters, bolsters a theory unveiled earlier this year that threatens to upend a long-standing classification of all dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs were the monarchs of Earth for 160 million years until a space rock collided with the planet 65.5 million years ago and wiped out those confined to land.

The survivors, which could fly, are the direct ancestor of today's birds.

"Chilesaurus genuinely helps fill an evolutionary gap between two big dinosaur groups," said co-author Paul Barrett, president of Britain's Palaeontographical Society and a researcher at the Natural History Museum.

When first presented to the world in 2015, Chilesaurus -- despite its penchant for plants -- was lumped together with theropods, the suborder of meat-eating dinos that not only includes fleet-footed

velociraptors but Tyrannosaurus rex, the ultimate carnivore.

Experts acknowledged at the time, however, that it was an awkward fit. One described the beast as "the most bizarre dinosaur ever found."

An upright posture, powerful hind legs and foreshortened front limbs were all reminiscent of theropods.

But an inverted, bird-like hip structure and flattened, leaf-shaped teeth -proof of an exclusively vegetal diet -suggested that it also shared traits with another major suborder, the Ornithischia.

Well-known ornithischians include Triceratops and the three-tonne Stegosaurus, which boasted large armoured plates along its spine and a brain the size of a walnut.

"Chilesaurus initially looked like an earlier offshoot of the theropod line, but it seemed suspicious that it had all these adaptations for eating plants," Barrett told foreign media agencies.

It lived about 150 million years ago, far earlier than the handful of theropods known to have turned away from meat, he pointed out.

Common anCestor: To verify Chilesaurus' place in the dino family tree, Barrett and Matthew Baron of the University of Cambridge analysed more than

450 anatomical features of early dinosaurs. What they found confirmed a hunch. "We realised that it was not a strange, early plant-eating theropod, but rather a strange plant-eating animal that was an offshoot of this other group, Ornithischia," Barrett said.

Reassigning Chilesaurus to a new family tree might seem like something only a dino lover could find exciting.

But the new affiliation has major implications. For most of the last century, experts have agreed that theropods were more closely related to a third major evolutionary branch, the Sauropods, that included long-necked beasts such as Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus.

But the neither-fish-nor-foul Chilesaurus shows that the fearsome killers

under the theropod umbrella shared, in fact, a greater affinity with the docile Ornithischia menagerie.

This was the bold theory that Baron and Barrett, along with other colleagues, proposed in a landmark study published last March in the journal Nature.

"Our reorganisation was putting Ornithischia and theropods much closer together, and this new animal helps cement that relationship," Barrett explained.

"Chilesaurus gives us more confidence that this rearrangement was correct because it has a combination of features found in those two groups."

The first dinosaur emerged some 228 million years ago. The new findings support the idea that theropods and ornithischians shared a common ancestor as early as 225 million years ago, not long after the dino saga began.

Ornithischia thrived for more than 100 million years, but dead-ended when the rogue rock smashed into what, today is the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.

The impact probably created a massive firestorm followed by a decades-long winter that destroyed vegetation, the starting point in the dinosaurs' food chain.

Most theropods were wiped out too, although the forerunners of modern birds persevered.

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

A look AT The CAreer of NUsrAT fATeh Ali khAN N

SyEd m murtAzA

USRAT Fateh Ali Khan is holder of a legendary status not only in Pakistani circles that celebrate his music and what it stood for to this day, but also a huge fanbase that he had acquired abroad.

NFAK’s art was that of the Qawalli, having been born to a 600year old Qawalli family, NFAK was able to introduce Sufi music to the passes, even in international spaces, by capitalising on the lessons and traditions his family could provide and his own natural ability.

The Qawwali maestro is arguably one of the greatest singers ever recorded; owing to the fact that the artist possessed a six-octave vocal range and could perform at a high level of intensity for several hours.

During the course of his music career, the legendary singer gained a plethora of recognition in the form of titles and accolades; wherein his talents were recognized.

In 1987, the government of Pak-

istan bestowed Pride of Performance on the legendary singer for his contribution to Pakistani music.

Two years before his death, he was honored with the prestigious UNESCO Music Prize. He received a number of national and international honorary awards in his glorious career.

Having acquired for himself the title of ‘Shahenshah-e-Qawwali’, the artist released as many as 25 Qawalli albums, including his massive hit ‘Dam Mast Qalander’ which became a household anthem.

The awards and honours he won posthumously include the "Legends" award at the UK Asian Music Awards, Time magazine’s "60 Years of Asian Heroes", NPR’s 50 Great Voices list, CNN’s list of twenty most iconic musicians and 14th position in UGO’s list of the best singers of all time.

The ‘Ustad’ left us at the age of 48 on 16 August 1997 and today marks his 20th Death Anniversary.

His fans that still hold him dear to this day, having been enriched by his music shared how touched they were

ARTS

15

Will Matthew McConaughey join Marvel Universe?

AGENCIES

by his music on twitter.

May Allah give u higher ranks in Jannat U voiced for Peace Love and Love of Allah — AmnaFazail (@AmnaFazail) August 16, 2017 21/03/1997 the day I met the great #NusratFatehAliKhansb and got an autograph from him. It's his 20th death anniversary today RIP sir— IfrahBukhari (@S_IfrahBukhari) August

16, 2017 Always in our thoughts, forever in our hearts!

May Allah bless his soul and grant him the highest grade — Ayesha Altaf (@ayesha__altaf) August 16, 2017 UstadNusratFateh Ali Khan left the world of his fans at the age of 48 on 16 August 1997, but he will always remain relevant and remembered.

Idris Elba wants Matthew McConaughey to play a young Odin in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The 44-year-old actor has been starring as Heimdall since the first 'Thor' movie back in 2011 and would like to see his 'Dark Tower' co-star portray a young version the All-Father of all the Nordic Gods. Speaking to MTV News, Elba said: "In Marvel world? There's a couple of versions. He could be Thor's dad. Play a young version of him. Smash it." Odin, who is the father of Thor, is currently played by Sir Anthony Hopkins who last reprised his role in 'Thor: The Dark World' in 2013. Elba is set to reprise his role of the all-seeing and all-hearing guardian sentry of Asgard, who stands on the rainbow bridge, in the third standalone movie, 'Thor: Ragnarok' McConaughey has already been approached to star in a MCU movie including the role of Ego in 'Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2' and another part in 'Doctor Strange,' but he turned them down. For now, he's one of the few A- list actors who has yet to take the superhero plunge.

Tom Cruise injured during Mission: Impossible 6 shoot AGENCIES Tom Cruise has thrown the Mission: Impossible 6 filming into chaos after reportedly breaking two bones during a failed stunt scene in London.

Cruise was performing a scene for the latest instalment of the longrunning franchise in London. It involved him jumping between two buildings with the assistance of a safety harness. Footage recorded by TMZ shows him mistiming his leap and crashing into the side of the second building.

The actor was able to pull himself up onto the roof of the building

but was then seen limping heavily before collapsing next to members of the film’s crew. He has reportedly broken his ankles in two places after smashing into the side of the builing.

Cruise is something of a rarity among Hollywood actors for insisting on performing many of his own stunts. For Mission: ImpossibleGhost Protocol, the actor scaled the outside of Dubai’s BurjKhalifa, currently the world’s tallest building; For 2015’s Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, meanwhile, he was attached to the exterior of an Airbus 400 as it took off.

According to reports, Cruise, 55, has flown back to the US for treatment, forcing producers to push back filming by months.

He is the film’s biggest star and everything revolves around him.

The movie’s bosses had no choice other than to postpone the filming.

It is now believed the film's release could be pushed back from summer 2018 to Christmas that year because of the stalling.

“He is the film’s biggest star and everything revolves around him.

The movie’s bosses had no choice other than to postpone the filming,” the publication said.

Obama's post Charlottesville tweet goes viral, breaks all records ENtErtAINmENt dESk

Daniel Craig to play James Bond again AGENCIES James Bond fans: Daniel Craig is returning as 007! The British actor officially confirmed the news on Tuesday night’s episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, adding, “I think this is it. I just want to go out on a high note. I can’t wait.” “I have been quite cagey about it. I have been doing interviews all day and people have been asking me and I think I’ve been rather coy.

But kind of felt like if I was going to speak the truth I should speak truth to you.” Colbert then says: ‘We could use some good news here.

Daniel Craig, will you return as James Bond?’

The actor then replies: “Yes.” The one word was met by ecstatic cheering in the studio audience. “I always wanted to, I wanted a break,” Craig continued, referring to the iconic character that launched him into stardom. Craig expressed reluctance to reprise his role when promoting Spectre in 2015, admitting he couldn’t think about a new Bond film at the time. But Craig hinted that it would be his last outing as the famous fictional secret agent. Within the last few days he had said no deal had been struck over the next 007 instalment, which is due out in 2019. He told US radio station Magic that he would “love to do it” but was weighing up “personal decisions”.

Former President Barack Obama's took to twitter to respond to a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and his tweet is going viral all over the world.

In a series of posts on Twitter, Obama shared the words of former South African president Nelson Mandela, with the first of his tweets on its way to becoming the most liked of all time.

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion..." pic.twitter.com/InZ58zkoAm — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 13, 2017 "No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or his religion..." Obama wrote. The tweet featured a photograph of Obama looking into a window filled with young children belonging to different racial backgrounds.

These tweets follow the incidents that took place in the USA over the weekend, involving white supremacists, and removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Virginia. The rally resulted in clashes with counter-protesters that resulted in the death of one woman and several others injured.

Other tweets that have gained this massive reaction are Ellen Degeneres' 2014 Oscars selfie, which drew more than 2.4 million likes, and singer Ariana Grande's 2017 tweet after the horrifying Manchester

Arena attack.

This quote has been taken from the Nelson Mandela's autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom," and Obama finished it in two additional tweets: "'People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love. For love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.' - Nelson Mandela."

We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017

Trump's response to the clashes was weak in many respects as was noted by critics. In contrast, Trump's initial tweet had just about 188,000 likes as of Tuesday morning.

CMYK

Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone fail to grab awards at Teen Choice 2017 AGENCIES Bollywood divas Priyanka Chopra and DeepikaPadukone didn’t emerge as winners at the Teen Choice 2017 award ceremony, where TV show Riverdale and film Wonder Woman dominated the winners’ list. Deepika was nominated for her Hollywood debut xXx: Return of Xander Cage in the Choice Action Movie Actress category and lost the title to Gal Gadot, who won for her act in hit film Wonder Woman. Priyanka was also nominated for her Hollywood debut film Baywatch in the Choice Movie Villain category. She was competing with stars like CharlizeTheron, Elizabeth Banks, James McAvoy, Javier Bardem and Luke Evans. Evans emerged the winner. The fan-decided awards were announced on Sunday. The annual ceremony, which recognises teen icons in film, television, music, sports, fashion, comedy and the web, honoured film and TV titles including Wonder Woman, Riverdale and Beauty and the Beast, reports EW. Stars from Riverdale, Teen Wolf and Pretty Little Liars dominated the TV categories, while Wonder Woman and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 won big in the movie categories.

16 BUSINESS

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

MARKET DAILY

PSX endS with hintS of green KSE-100 RISES BY 287PTs ON CLOSURE LAHORE

i

BUSINESS DESK

NVESTORS finally saw some green on their trade screen after the market rebounded to close with gains. After a dip in the afternoon, the benchmark KSE 100 index bounced back from the trough of 43,781.57 to peak of 44,332.51. The 287.51 points close though was 0.65 per cent only but nevertheless some relief for investors.

The KMI 30 index surged by 296.27 points to 74,521.74 and the KSE All Share Index gathered 137.07 points.

A total of 193 scripts advanced while

149 declined. The market volumes slid lower down to 187.25 million. The technology and communications sector staged the best performance and added 2.50 per cent to its market capitalisation. Both Avanceon Limited (AVN +4.99 per cent) and NetSol Technologies Limited (NETSOL +4.99 per cent)

landed at its upper circuit breaker price.

Pakistan International Container Terminal Limited (PICT -2.52 per cent) declared financials for the second quarter ended June 30, 2017. With 8.25 per cent quarter-on-quarter fall sales hit Rs 2.34 billion which converted into net profit of Rs 6.18 million. Earn-

ings per share clocked at Rs 5.66. The board also approved of an interim cash dividend of Rs 7.50.

Shell Pakistan Limited (SHEL +0.04 per cent) also registered negative growth in the quarter. Sales were lower by 3.69 per cent compared to the previous quarter and were reported at Rs 47.12 billion. This was a 1 per cent year-on-year fall. Earnings per share depreciated by 32 per cent from the last quarter and 57 per cent from Rs 20.48 reported in the same period last year. A cash dividend of Rs 7 per share was approved by the board. The Bank of Punjab (BOP +0.76 per cent) extended markup earned by 11 per cent since 2QFY16 to Rs 8.36 billion. This is a 9 per cent QoQ rise. The bank posted a 52 per cent YoY lower per share earnings of Rs 0.40. This is a downfall of 60 per cent compared to the 1QFY17.

PTA formulates new regulations to stop use of unregistered cell phones, devices govt initiates major policy reforms to facilitate business community: PM ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday said that government had initiated major policy reforms to facilitate business community. The prime minister said that laws relating to establishment of Special Economic Zones had been formulated to attract investment in the country with complete freedom of transferring dividends and movement of capital. Khaqan was talking to a delegation of Pakistan Business Council, led by Vice Chairman Towfiq Chinoy, which called on him at the PM Office. PM Khaqan stated that government had also improved security ambiance, particularly in Karachi to help business community conduct trade in a peaceful environment. Indicators of Pakistan’s economy are stable and moving towards positive growth which is being acknowledged by renowned international rating institutions, stated the prime minister. The prime minister said that “Pakistan is poised to become a major player in the regional economy.” He appreciated the role of Pakistan Business Council in providing tangible advice to the government on important policy issues.

Delegation of Pakistan Business Council thanked the prime minister and lauded the policy initiatives undertaken by the present government for restoring investors’ confidence and paving the way for sustained business and trade growth.

ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has formulated regulations to permanently stop the use of lost, stolen, invalid IMEI number, mobile phones/communicating devices in the country, which in result, will save the national exchequer above Rs 15 billion annually.

At present, the number of mobile phone/device users are above 14 crore, while, 40 per cent of these mobile phone users are using un-registered mobile phone/devices. These un-registered communicating devices are causing serious security concerns and economic losses.

However, with the enforcement of newly formulated regulations named as “Mobile Devices Identification, Regulation and Blocking Regulations, 2017,” it is expected to permanently block and issue denial of telecommunication services to the unregistered communicating devices.

Available documents disclosed to Pakistan Today show that PTA has completed the process of consultation with the concerned stakeholders on the newly devised Mobile Devices Identification, Regulation and Blocking Regulations, 2017. These new regulations will be enforced with the start of October 2017, in the country.

With effect to the enforcement of the Mobile Devices Identification, Regulation and Blocking Regulations, 2017, a Mobile Device Identification Registration Blocking System (DIRBS) will be in placed to stop the use and sale of smuggled, lost, stolen and invalid/duplicate IMEI number’s mobile devices in the country.

“These Regulations shall apply to

all mobile communications service licensees for the registration and maintenance of accurate data of their subscribers’ mobile devices and registered IMEIs through, for verification through the DIRBS system in accordance with the procedure specified in these Regulations,” it was learned.

PTA officials said that these regulations have been formulated on the complaints of FBR (federal board of revenue) and intelligence agencies as billion rupees tax theft was being made.

Similarly, the use of such mobile devices by the terrorists and criminal networks have caused serious security threats. A Device Verification System Interface will be provided by the PTA to type approval holders/authorised distributors for registration/identification of IMEI displayed on the mobile device to verify whether the said device is a compliant mobile device or not issued certification of compliance to technical standards for IMEI devices issued by PTA, officials said.

The officials said that the devices imported/shipped in accordance with the regulations would be eligible for registration. They said individuals importing/carrying device(s) for personal use will be required to apply for certification of compliance to technical standards for IMEI devices issued by PTA as per PTA guidelines/SOPs issued from time to time as well as PTA type approval regulations to become eligible for registration of the device(s). Similarly, un-registered devices will be denied mobile communication service and will be included in black list if found operational on the public switched network, the papers added.

According to documents, “All MNOs/mobile phone companies

shall carry out extensive media campaigns through SMS broadcasts, at their own cost, to educate consumers for the requirement to verify the validity of mobile devices in their use and the procedure for verification of mobile devices available for sale/purchase, using the field verification system of DIRBS.” The documents further revealed that in order to ensure compliance of these regulations, the Authority may, through its authorised officer(s), inspect the premises and record maintained by the MNOs/mobile network operators at any time at their customer services outlets or registered and authorised agents of franchisees.

And, the concerned operator(s) and their registered and authorised agents or franchisees shall provide all the information and shall extend all possible assistance to the authorised officer(s) or representative of the Authority to inspect the records.

Besides this, all directives, notifications, standard operating procedures and orders issued by the Authority, from time to time, on or before notification of these regulations, shall be binding, and applicable, on the operators.

Last but not the least, the mobile phone companies, without prejudice to the provisions of any law for the time being in force, will ensure confidentiality of information disclosed by the consumers under the provision of these regulations. It is pertinent to mention here that FBR has confiscated above six lakh smuggled mobile phones after conducting surprise raids in various cities including Peshawar, Karachi etc. as these smuggled mobile phones were being sold in the open market of the country.

Pakistan offers great opportunity for Korean investors in tourism: PtdC ISLAMABAD APP

Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Abdul Ghafoor met Heritage International Company Limited Chairman KoMoon Seok, Vice Chairman Chang Hyo soon and K-biz International Company Director Kim Won Taek. Ghafoor said that Pakistan offers a lot of investment opportunities in tourism and hospitality sector as well as heritage, as a large number of heritage sites lie in Pakistan in addition to ancient civilizations.

“We are working on the restoration and preservation of heritage sites, however, there is a scope of further cooperation from international organisations”, he remarked.

Investment opportunities in the sector also included point to point chartered flights, helicopter services, ski resorts and chairlift/cable cars etc, said a press release issued here. Remains of Gandhara and Buddhist civilisations in Pakistan need restoration and preservation. A large number of Buddhist monks visit Pakistan to perform their religious rituals. In 2014 and 2015, PTDC officers participated in tourism training courses organised by the ministry of tourism in Korea.

Korean tour operators should introduce Pakistan in their tour packages. Both the countries have had friendly, diplomatic relations for the past four decades and introducing tour packages will increase tourist flow between the two countries. For the purpose, the role of embassies becomes a dire need. Direct flights are also required to be operated, he further added.

Ko Moon Seok said a large number of Korean tourists intend to visit Pakistan but due to lack of knowledge, the flow is very little. The start of direct flights will surely increase the number. He said our company is ready to provide assistance in preservation and maintenance of heritage sites. Chang Hyo soon said, “We are in contact with Korean tour operators dealing with heritage and Buddhist religious tourism and we will recommend them to include Pakistan in their tour packages. We will also offer our expertise in restoration of archaeological sites.”

Kim Won Taek said that K-Biz has expertise in developing 5-Star Hotels, installation of cable cars and chair lifts as well as we also have 25-seater chartered planes. We can invest in these opportunities along with the economic corridor and rest of Pakistan’s tourism destinations.

Fertilizer makers to face pressure on margins despite peak demand LAHORE MONEM FAROOQI

Fertilizer makers may keep on facing pressure on margins despite the peak demand season where a pricing pressure would persist on both export and domestic front, market sources believe.

Talking to Pakistan Today, they believed that fertilizer sector currently faces two options. First, is to export the commodity at a price below breakeven cost which they believe is the more preferred option. On the other hand, they were of the view that the sector may let go the option of exports while taking a hit in terms of inventory carrying a cost, where an increasing stock pile would continue to haunt.

They said that pricing pressure on local sales would stay further despite peak demand season whereas urea prices remained under pressure, “a Rs 50-100

per bag jump in prices witnessed in the first week of July 2017 did not last for long, owing to the limited demand and huge stock piling by dealers during June, in anticipation of changes in subsidy,” they said, adding that Urea prices during July ranged between Rs 1,200-1,280 per bag, with National Fertilizer Marketing being an exception of Rs 1,000 per bag.

Market sources predict that the weak margin environment may persist for now, believing price pressure on both export and domestic front likely to weigh on margins for our fertilizer in second half of fiscal 2017 where prevailing local realised prices are at a 15 per cent premium to international prices compared to an average of 10 per cent discount witnessed in the year 2016.

They were of the view that the current downward trend in international prices, came-off by 12-32 per cent from its high,

seen in January this year, would likely to persist in the near-term and may put pressure on the local industry in two possible ways: (i) elimination of exports on being unviable with the industry’s average breakeven cost stands at $ 225 per ton, and (ii) threat of low cost urea imports to facilitate farmers in case international prices decline by another $ 5-10 per ton, which translates that into landed cost of Rs 1,200 per bag as against industry’s prevailing average realised price of Rs 1,300-1,380 per bag.

Latest updates on urea prices and sales were also not encouraging. Provisional off-take numbers for July indicate expected a decline in urea sales by 68 per cent on a month on the basis on the back of high base effect in anticipation of a reduction in cash subsidy while DAP offtake jumped by 97 per cent in the same period.

Despite peak demand season, prices remained under pressure ranging between Rs 1,200-1280 per bag, with NFML, being an exception. We believe price pressure on both export and the domestic front is likely to weigh on margins for ‘our’ fertilizer universe in 2017.

Lower urea and higher DAP offtake were witnessed in July, where Urea offtake for July dropped 68 per cent on month on and 56 per cent on yearly basis to 340 thousand tons owing to high-base effect and sowing season for Kharif approaching its end.

On the other hand, the expected jump by 97 per cent on month on and 11 per cent on yearly basis with 220 thousand tons, fully reflected the seasonal growth.

On a cumulative basis, Urea or DAP offtake increased by 17 per cent to 304,081 million tons. Urea inventory for the month is expected to surge slightly to

1.15 million tons which were 20 per cent of annual sales with FFC holding the highest inventory of 475 thousand tons.

Subsidy on DAP has continued unabated with certain changes in the mechanism, cash subsidy substituted with GST adjustment. ‘This allowed seasonal pickup in DAP demand to be fully reflected in monthly sales’ they pointed out.

The figures show that exports surged 36 per cent on a month on basis with declined retention prices. Urea exports also shot up in July by 36 per cent to 70 thousand tons, restricting the inventory pileup from lower local off-take to some extent. Market sources believe that inventory was expected to close the month at 1.15 million tons level. However, retention prices for exports remained at the lower end ranging from USD 190-225 per ton in the first half of this year with an average of $ 30-240 per ton.

BUSINESS 17

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

CORPORATE CORNER nurpur’s ‘little Big Chef dessert Competition’ held at PC lahore

Country’S fdi SurgeS By 162 Per Cent, reACheS $222.6M during July 2017 TOTAL FOREIGN INVESTMENT INCREASES BY 57.PC TO $212 MILLION

LAHORE: House of Nurpur in collaboration with ‘Foodies R’ Us’ hosted a dessert competition for children and adults. The Little Big Chef competition took place on the Foodies R’ Us Facebook platform, spanning over a period of 2 weeks and culminated on August 13, 2017, at Pearl Continental hotel, Lahore. The competition gave promising young chefs a platform to showcase their culinary skills using Nurpur UHT milk and Nurpur Butter.

Participants were given four dessert categories to participate in Eastern, Western, Baked Items and Fusion. The adult participants included both professional and non-professional chefs. The competition received an excellent response from both participants and the digital audience. Over 65 entries were received of which 40 were selected to proceed to the final live presentation round.

The House of Nurpur is a Fauji Foods Limited brand, primarily famous for the best butter in Pakistan; it has also gained traction across the consumer base for its unique taste in all other dairy products manufactured by the company. PRESS RELEASE

KARACHI: Karachi Marriott Hotel Cluster General Manager Rehan Faiz Pirzada, Rammal and Aroosa, the photographer of the exhibition unveiled the art work in the main lobby of the Marriott Karachi. Hashoo Group has always promoted cultural aspects of Pakistan through such events. pr

KARACHI

t

ARSHAD HUSSAIN

HE country received foreign direct investment (FDI) of $ 222.6 million in the month of July 2017, up by 162 per cent compared to $ 84.7 million in the same period last year.

In June 2017, the country had received an amount of $ 199 million in the head of direct investment, while investors pulled back their $ 672.3 million in total foreign investment compared to an investment of $ 340.6 million in June 2016.

The oil and gas, power sectors and construction Industries supported total foreign investment of the country, which increased by only 57.9 per cent to $ 212 million in the first month of current fiscal year compared with $ 134.3 million in the same period last year, the data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said here on Wednesday.

Petroleum ministry invites E&P companies to tap shale gas, oil potential

ISLAMABAD APP

Group photo of Summer School Participants with Pro Rector of Bahria University Rear Admiral (R) Shahid Saeed. pr

LAHORE: Sheraton Grand comes to Lahore. Flanked by the board of Directors, Qasim Jafri, CEO Imperium Hospitality and Jerome Briet, VP Development, Marriott International signed the agreement in Lahore today for a five star plus hotel. pr

The ministry of petroleum and natural resources has invited the local and international Exploration and Production (E&P) companies to tap massive shale gas and oil reserves identified in a study carried out in collaboration with USAID. Accordingly, the ministry has established a shale gas and oil centre to facilitate interested companies in knocking the recently compassed 188 TCF gas and 58 BSTB oil technically recoverable resources in lower and middle Indus Basin.

“A dedicated shale gas and oil centre has been established at the Petroleum House, which is now open for all interested E&P companies,” official sources told APP. They termed the identification of massive Shale reserves a ‘game-changer’ and future source for abundant supply of petroleum in the country.

A study, completed in collaboration with USAID, had confirmed presence of 3,778 trillion cubic feet (TCF) Shale gas and 2,323 billion of stock tank barrels (BSTB) shale oil in place resources.

CCP show causes frozen food manufacturer for deceptive marketing ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has issued a show cause notice to a frozen foods manufacturing company, Kitchen Stone Foods, for prima facie violation of Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010 by running deceptive marketing campaign for its frozen food products.

According to the enquiry report, such deceptive marketing practices by Kitchen Stone Foods not only

During July 2017, the SBP has received an amount of $ 0.7 million in Foreign Public Portfolio Investment (Debt Securities), which increased by 193.6 per cent during July 2017 which was in (negative) $ 0.8 million in the same period last year, the data said.

In the portfolio investment (equity market), the country recorded an outflow of $ 11.4 million in July this year compared with an inflow of $ 50.3 million in July 2016.

Out of this investment, the Chinese companies under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) invested an amount of $ 72.7 million in July 2017, while Malaysia invested $ 91.6 million and UAE invested $ 16.2 million in Pakistan.

Major investments the country received are from USA ($ 9.6m), Sweden ($ 5 m), Japan ($ 12.2 m), Italy ($ 4.6m), Hungary ($ 9.3 m), and France ($ 9.5 m) in different sectors, meanwhile Norway, Kuwait and Finland pulled back their investment from Pakistan during July 2017. The country recorded inflows of the direct investment of $ 247.8 million compared with an outflow of $ 25.1 million in July this year.

In July 2017, the country received a major investment in the power sector of $ 56.7 million most of them from China in the

deceived consumers but were also capable of harming the business interests of the complainants and other competitors. On the recommendations of the enquiry report, CCP issued Show Cause Notice to Kitchen Stone Foods and directed it to appear before the commission on August 31, 2017.

CCP received formal complaints from Seasons Foods Limited and Quick Food Industries limited alleging that Kitchen Stone Foods was deceiving consumers by claiming that its products were “100 per cent Non-Processed Food,” “Pakistan’s first non-

The study covered lower and middle Indus Basin which geographically spread over Sindh, southern parts of Punjab and eastern parts of Balochistan.

Total area under the study was 271,700 kilometers, which is 33 per cent of total sedimentary area of the country.

Answering a question, the sources said a consortium of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Pakistan Petroleum limited (PPL) is being formed to undertake pilot project(s) to determine cost of extracting Shale gas and oil.

During the study, a detailed analysis of 124 wells were carried out including laboratory analysis on shale cores and cuttings in the United States. Objectives of the study were to validate shale gas resource, estimate initial findings, assess availability of required technology and infrastructure for Shale gas operations and formulate guidelines for the shale gas policy.

The study had further confirmed that basic technology required for shale gas exploration, that is, horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, was available in the country and being used for conventional and tight gas reservoirs.

processed frozen food,” and “Processed Meat Causes Cancer: Switch to Kitchen Stone Products.”

CCP conducted an enquiry into the matter, which concluded that the advertisement posted by Kitchen Stone Foods on its Facebook page drew direct misleading comparison by showing the complainants’ packaging with articles citing risks and causes of cancer along with misleading narrations without substantiation.

The enquiry report further stated that Kitchen Stone Foods used various marketing means i.e. official Facebook page, product packaging, outdoor advertising and local marketing events, to make unsubstantiated claims that its products were “100 per cent Non-Processed”, “Pakistan’s first nonprocessed frozen food”, and that processed meat caused cancer, thus prima facie giving false and misleading information to consumers.

development projects of CPEC and Oil and Gas Exploration that received $ 20 million, the SBP’s data said.

An analyst said, “The country’s total direct investment have started rising from May 2017, only because of Chinese investment.”

Pakistan has received an amount of $ 2.157 billion in the last fiscal year (2016-17) compared to $ 1.976 billion in 2015-16.

After touching the highest level of $ 24.6 billion, the FOREX reserves declined to $ 20.003 billion on last Thursday. The stock market had almost lost 10,000 points from its peak at 44,000 points after touching the highest level of 52,387 points in the first week on June this year. The MSCI upgraded Pakistan’s stocks in emerging markets from June 1, 2017, but after coming into the emerging market KSE-100 index is continuously sliding, another analyst claimed.

During the fiscal year 2016-17, overseas Pakistani workers remitted $ 19,304 billion down by 3.1 per cent or $ 610 million, compared with $ 19,917 billion received during the same period in the preceding year.

During July 2017, the inflow of worker’s remittances amounted to $ 1.542 billion, which is 16.2 per cent less than June 2017 and 16 per cent more than July 2016.

BoP announces financial results for first half of year 2017 LAHORE BUSINESS DESK

A meeting of the Board of Directors of The Bank of Punjab was held on August 16, 2017, to consider and approve un-audited financial statements of the bank for the half year ended June 30, 2017. During the 1st half of the year 2017, Net Interest Margin (NIM) of the bank improved to Rs. 7.2 billion as against Rs. 5.9 billion during corresponding period of last year. The Bank’s Non-Markup/ Interest Income remained at the level of Rs. 3.0 billion. Accordingly, the Bank earned before tax profit of Rs. 3.8 billion during 1st half of year 2017 and Earnings per share (EPS) for the half year remained at Rs. 1.41. As on June 30, 2017, Bank’s Total Assets increased to Rs. 627.5 billion. The Deposits of the Bank reached the level of Rs. 528.8 billion as against Rs. 453.2 billion as on December 31, 2016. Similarly, the Advances and Investments remained at Rs. 336.2 billion and Rs. 235.6 billion, respectively. The Bank’s Tier-I equity improved to Rs. 27.1 billion as against Rs. 24.2 billion as on December 31, 2016. The Bank has been assigned long term entity rating of “AA” by The Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (PACRA) with short term rating being at highest rank of “A1+”. The Bank currently has a network of 455 online branches, including 50 Taqwa Islamic Banking Branches, spanned across the country. Further, Bank also has a vast network of 310 ATMs providing 24/7 banking services to the customers.

india moves to revive tAPi gas pipeline NEW DELHI INP

India will host the next steering committee meeting of the proposed 1,814 kilometre-long Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, senior officials on both sides confirmed. The decision came during the sixth joint Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) meeting on trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation. The meeting was followed by a meeting between visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan. “I strongly believe in this project, and this is the position of Turkmenistan,” Merodov said at a small interaction.

18 SPORTS

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

Sharapova receiveS US open wildcard F

AGENCIES

IvE-TIME major champion Maria Sharapova of Russia will play her first Grand Slam event since serving a 15-month doping suspension after receiving a wildcard Tuesday into the US Open.

The move by the US Tennis Association (USTA) comes after Sharapova, ranked 148th this week, was rejected for a wildcard spot into the French Open and missed Wimbledon with a thigh injury.

Sharapova tested positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open and was suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), a ban that ended in April. Since then, Sharapova has needed wildcards to get into tournaments, drawing criticism from some fellow professionals.

“Her suspension under the terms of the tennis anti-doping program was completed and therefore was not one of the factors weighed in our wildcard selection process,” the USTA said in a statement.

“Consistent with past practice, a wildcard was provided to a past US champion who needed the wildcard for entry into the main draw. Previous US Open champions who have received US Open main draw wildcards include Martina Hingis, Lleyton Hewitt, Kim Cli-

Bolt to make Manchester United debut against Barca AGENCIES Retired sprinter Usain Bolt will fulfill his lifelong dream to play for Manchester United when he dons the Red Devils’ jersey in a charity match against Barcelona next month. Bolt is set to make his dream debut at the Old Trafford on September 2 if he recovers from a hamstring injury.

The legendary sprinter could be lining up with United legends Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes in the event, which has been organised to raise money for the Manchester United foundation. The 30-year-old Jamaican suffered a hamstring injury in his final race at the World Championships in London, earlier this month. Bolt’s desire to play at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ is no secret. He recently spoke about his dream to play football after his athletics career, in which he won eight Olympic gold medals and is the current 100m world record holder. “Everyone knows I’m always talking about (playing) football, I’m waiting on a call from Mourinho," he joked before his final meet at the World Championships, “I think he's waiting until the last day (of the transfer window).”

jsters and Juan Martin del Potro.”

Former world number one Sharapova won the 2006 US Open as well as Wimbledon in 2014, the 2008 Australian Open and the 2012 and 2014 French Opens.

Sharapova will also speak to youth about the benefits of the anti-doping program and the need for players to be vigilant about the banned substance list, something she admitted not doing when she did not catch meldonium being added to the ban list in 2016.

“Additionally, Sharapova has volunteered to speak to young tennis players at the USTA national campus about the importance of the tennis anti-doping program and the personal responsibility each player has to comply with the program’s requirements,” the USTA said.

Sharapova has shaken off criticism from rival players about wildcards and the French Open snub, tweeting after being denied a spot at Roland Garros, “If this is what it takes to rise up again, then I am in it all the way, every day. No

words, games or actions will ever stop me from reaching my own dreams. And I have many.”

Players in Cincinnati for this week’s WTA event welcomed Sharapova back into Grand Slam tennis. “I’m sure this is a great moment for her to have an opportunity to be back to a place where she has done so well,” ninth-ranked venus Williams said.

World number six dismissed any notion it would be wrong to give Sharapova a wildcard, saying, “Either way it's not a controversy. I don't have a problem with that.”

Sharapova has withdrawn from US Open warm-up tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati the past two weeks after suffering a left forearm injury at Stanford. In her first US match since March 2015, Sharapova defeated American Jennifer Brady 6-1, 4-6, 6-0 at Stanford.

But in the triumph, Sharapova suffered the forearm injury that has sidelined her since, even after arriving in Cincinnati hopeful of playing as a wildcard in the final major tuneup before the US Open.

“Following the doctor’s advice onsite, as a precaution for the US Open, I am unfortunately withdrawing from the tournament with the left forearm injury I sustained in Stanford,” Sharapova said.

Stoneman to make England debut against Windies AGENCIES Joe Root has confirmed that Mark Stoneman will make his England debut in the first Test against the West Indies.

Stoneman’s inclusion, at the expense of Keaton Jennings, is the only change to the side that beat South Africa at Old Trafford earlier in the month as they begin the three-match series against the Windies with the first day-night Test hosted in England, at Edgbaston. It means that the fit-again Chris Woakes misses the opportunity to make his return on his home ground while young leg-spinner Mason Crane must also wait for his first experience of Test cricket. “Chris Woakes and Mason Crane are the two guys who are going to miss out,” Root said. “I think it is a great opportunity for the rest of the guys to experience a pink-ball Test match for the first time and I'm really excited to get the week going.” “[Woakes] will definitely have

wanted to play here but just with the lack of game time he’s had, we felt that just another week of loading up on overs and making sure he was absolutely ready after coming back from quite a serious injury was really important,” he added.

“That’s where we’re at, at the minute and I think Toby [RolandJones] deserves his opportunity here.”

Stoneman will be Alastair Cook’s 12th opening partner since Andrew Strauss retired and Root challenged the Surrey left-hander to make the spot his own.

“He’s obviously got a huge amount of runs under his belt this year, in particular, and in previous seasons as well,” he added. “He’s got a wellrounded game, he’s a bit more experienced having played a lot of county cricket and I’m excited to see him go and hopefully take his opportunity.”

“Ideally you want some to come in and set the world alight and their career move forward from there but I'd like to think he'll get a very good op-

portunity and some good game time with England. Of course you want [the top order] to be settled. You never want to go into a series with guys out of form or under pressure but I think that is one of the challenges of Test cricket.” “And, as a side, generally, we've responded quite well to that in the past and this is just a great opportunity for Mark to go out and show everyone how good a player he is.”

Root warned against underestimating a West Indies side looking to record their first Test series win in England since 1988 and believes the pink ball will provide both sides with "different challenges" at Edgbaston.

“I think there are different challenges that [the pink ball] brings and at different times of the day than you'd normally expect in Test cricket,” he said, “But, ultimately, it is still the same fundamentals of cricket and you've just got to make sure that when those difficult periods crop up that we respond well and quickly.”

english media hails ‘alexander The Great’ after liverpool’s win over hoffenheim LIVERPOOL AGENCIES

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s stunning freekick for Liverpool in their 2-1 Champions League win over Hoffenheim had the British media purring ‘Who needs Coutinho?’ in reference to the wantaway Brazilian star.

The 18-year-old’s opening goal for Liverpool in the tie in Germany - setting them up nicely for next week’s home leg - incited the Daily Mail to headline their report ‘Alexander The Great.’

Alexander-Arnold called it a ‘thing of dreams’ to score on his European debut for his ‘boyhood club’ in their Champions League play-off, first-leg clash, and was lavishly praised by club icon Steven Gerrard. But had Barcelona target Philippe Coutinho been fit, Alexander-Arnold probably wouldn’t even have taken the free-kick.

Gerrard, who coaches the Liverpool Under-18 side, said that the former club mascot - another Liverpool great Jamie Carragher tweeted a photo of him and Alexander-Arnold in the tunnel before a League Cup match in 2009 - could threaten England international Nathan Clyne’s first choice spot at fullback this season.

“It was a fabulous free-kick and it’s ironic really because Coutinho might have taken it if he was available,” said Gerrard, “He has played superbly in general play but to have the character to take that before the likes of (Jordan) Henderson and (Sadio) Mane says a lot.”

“I know this kid very well, he’s going to be a top, top player and Nathaniel Clyne has to be very, very careful this season because he is already breathing down his neck,” Gerrard said.

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp praised the teenager, whose deftly-struck freekick wrong-footed the Hoffenheim defence to give Liverpool the lead on 35 minutes. “I find it astounding that an 18-year-old has the guts to cheekily smash in a free-kick from a situation like that,” Klopp said. “It was a very intense game for him, he is a great young player with a lot of potential.”

Former Republic of Ireland great Tony Cascarino, now a respected pundit for The Times, also praised the youngster for his boldness in stepping up to take the freekick, which reflected ‘the respect that his team-mates have for him.’

Cascarino added that defensively it was hard to judge him - though his ‘electric pace’ is eye-catching - and whilst he was at fault for the late Hoffenheim goal, he would learn from it. “Overall he’s very athletic, though he needs to fill out a little, but that will come,” wrote Cascarino.

“In terms of defending it’s pretty hard to judge him in this Liverpool team because the full backs are often so exposed. The late Hoffenheim goal was the only time he put a foot wrong, but that’s why he plays these big games, to learn and get the mistakes out of his system.”

Off-spinner Ashwin to play for Worcestershire LONDON AGENCIES

India’s off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin will play for Worcestershire for the rest of their County campaign, it was revealed on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old - who took 17 wickets on the recent tour of Sri Lanka as India completed their first three-Test series sweep on foreign soil on Monday - will replace Australian John Hastings as the county’s overseas player in a coup for the secondtier side.

The county will hope Ashwin, ranked number three in the bowler’s Test world rankings and second in the all-rounder lists, propels them to promotion in their final four matches.

Ashwin will be the first Indian player to play for Worcestershire since Zaheer Khan resurrected his international career after a superb season with them in 2006.

“Ravi is a fantastic international cricketer who is currently in terrific form with his game,” purred

Worcestershire’s chief executive Steve Rhodes in a statement released by the club.

“He is ranked in the top three as a bowler in Test cricket, is a wonderful all-rounder who can bat six and scores hundreds in Test cricket. It is unlucky for John Hastings with his injury but Ravi is a wonderful cricketer for us to have at a crucial point in our season.”

“It is a really important last few games in the Championship and to have someone of his class is a huge boost for the club.” Ashwin has taken 286 wickets in 51 Tests, including five wickets in an innings on 26 occasions, 150 ODI wickets and 52 in T20Is. Ashwin is also a force with the bat and has scored 2,004 Test runs at an average of 32.85 with four centuries and 11 fifties, and had been an opening batsman before turning to off-spin.

Worcestershire presently occupy the second and last spot for promotion to the first division, 15 points clear of third-placed Northamptonshire, whilst Sussex and Kent are a further two points adrift.

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SPORTS 19

Thursday, 17 August, 2017

YUvraj, raina noT conSidered For FailUre To clear ‘Yo-Yo’ TeST NEW DELHI

T

AGENCIES

HE failure to clear the ‘YoYo’ endurance test at India’s National Cricket Academy was the primary reason why Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina were not considered for the Sri Lanka limited overs series.

The Indian team regularly undergoes a series of fitness tests with ‘Yo-Yo’ endurance test being the most important of them. It is an advanced version of the ‘beep’ test that was used by teams of earlier generations.

It has been learnt that for the current Indian team, the acceptable score is 19.5 and upwards. Captain virat Kohli, easily the fittest Indian cricketer, scores around 21 in the test.

However both Yuvraj and Raina have scored well below the permissible level of 19.5 with Yuvraj barely managing to touch 16, which was the biggest reason for his ouster.

“The current team think tank, coach Ravi Shastri, skipper virat Kohli and chairman of selectors MSK Prasad have made it clear that fitness standards are non-negotiable.”

“On an average, the Australian

Tribunal turns down latif, Shahzaib’s applications LAHORE STAFF REPORT

cricketers score 21 in Yo-Yo test.

Here virat, Ravindra Jadeja, Manish Pandey regularly hit that score while others are either touching 19.5 or is hitting above that score,” a BCCI official, who cannot come on record, said on Wednesday.

“In an earlier era, when the traditional beep test was in vogue, the Indian players of the 1990's would have scored around 16 to 16.5 barring a few like Mohammed Azharud-

din, Robin Singh or Ajay Jadeja.”

“But now it's different as the skipper himself is hitting the benchmark, which the Australian cricket team sets it,” the official added. Just for understanding, how the Yo-Yo Test works.

Cones are placed to mark out two lines 20 meters apart. A player starts with his foot behind one of the lines, and begins running when instructed. Player continues running

between the two lines, turning when signalled by the recorded beeps.

After each minute or so, the pace gets quicker. If the line is not reached in time, the player must run to the line turn and try to catch up with the pace within two more 'beeps'. The test is stopped if the player fails to catch up with the pace within the two ends. The entire process is software-based where the results are recorded.

Maria Toor vows to establish sports fund for under privileged youth

‘Cricket board to blame for Sri Lankan cricket’s worst period’ ARJUNA RANATUNGA SAYS PLAYERS ARE DEMORALISED, IT IS MANAGEMENT’s FAULT COLOMBO AGENCIES

Former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga blamed Sri Lanka’s cricket board on Tuesday for the squad’s crushing three-Test series whitewash on home soil against India.

Ranatunga said that the Sri Lanka team could not be faulted for the humiliating 3-0 drubbing described by skipper Dinesh Chandimal as the worst series of his career, but squared the blame entirely with management.

“Sri Lankan cricket is going through its worst period,” Ranatunga told reporters in Colombo. “You can’t blame only the players, they are demoralised. It is the fault of the manage-

ment.” The comprehensive series defeat compounded woes for a side beset by injury woes and leadership changes. Ranatunga renewed calls for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chief Thilanga Sumathipala to be sacked, and urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to investigate the management. Last week, 53-year-old Ranatunga, told AFP that there was no “proper discipline” in the national side, which has suffered a string of humiliating home defeats in recent months.

“We don’t have selectors with a backbone,” Ranatunga said, referring to the panel headed by Sanath Jayasuriya, a former team-mate of Ranatunga’s 1996 World Cup-winning side. Ranatunga has accused

Sethi sheds light on Shaharyar Khan’s illustrious career LAHORE APP

Pakistan Cricket Board on Wednesday hosted a farewell ceremony in honour of the outgoing PCB chairman Shaharyar M Khan at Gaddafi stadium.

In the ceremony, the newly elected PCB Chairman Najam Sethi and PCB office bearers welcomed the outgoing Chairman and gave him a standing ovation. Addressing the audience, Najam Sethi thanked Shaharyar Khan for his illustrious contribution to Pakistan’s cricket.

Sethi shed light on Shaharyar Khan’s illustrious career and mentioned his working experience with the outgone Chairman PCB. He mentioned how he and Shaharyar Khan had worked to bring forward Pakistan’s soft image.

Speaking at the occasion, for-

mer PCB chairman thanked Najam Sethi and his senior management for their support. He highlighted how he and the Sethi had worked hard during his tenure to take Pakistan’s cricket to a respectable stature.

He lauded the Sethi and credited him for the successful hosting of PSL first and second edition, and second edition’s final in Lahore this year. He lauded the coaching staff performance, the selection committee behind team’s recent victory in the ICC Champions Trophy.

He had all praise for Najam Sethi, and termed him the right man to take Pakistan’s cricket forward in the right direction. He wished his best wishes to the newly elected Chairman PCB and hoped he with his vision and efforts would bring back international cricket to Pakistan.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Anti-corruption Tribunal – which is probing the spot-fixing charges on several Pakistani cricketers – did not consider the applications submitted by two players, Khalid Latif and Shahzaib Hasan, who had requested to defer their suspension for the time being on their playing cricket.

PCB’s lawyer Taffazul Rizvi told media on Tuesday that the tribunal while not considering the applications, forwarded to its office without any action.

Taffazul said that the tribunal could consider the applications if the petitioners would ask for it again.

But in that case, the lawyer said he would also have the right to raise objections against hearing those petitions. Taffazul avoided replying when he was asked if those petitions were not the tactics used by Khalid to delay the hearing process. He said that the verdict on Sharjeel, another accused cricketer of the case, would be announced by Aug 26. The fourth accused player is long-discarded Pakistan opening batsman Nasir Jamshed who is also facing the allegation of spot-fixing reported in the second edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) earlier this year.

LAHORE APP

Sumathipala of involvement in gambling — a charge which would preclude him from a board position at SLC — and urged the ICC to investigate. Sumathipala has vehemently denied the allegations.

Sumathipala told AFP last week that Ranatunga was leading a smear campaign against him in a bid to wrest leadership of the board for himself. “Every time the game is affected at the middle, Sri Lanka cricketers are not performing to the expectation, we hear this kind of noise coming from the same quarter,” Sumathipala said.

Since retiring from the game, Ranatunga has entered politics and was an unelected cricket administrator in 2008. Last month, he demanded an investigation into Sri Lanka’s 2011 World Cup loss to India, which was marred by allegations of match-fixing.

Internationally renowned female Pakistani squash player and a member of International Olympic Committee women commission, Maria Toor Pakai has vowed to establish a sports fund for under privileged boys and girls of Pakistan.

She urged the parents to give equal opportunities and support to their children, especially daughters for choosing the sport of their choice.

She expressed these views at a meeting with the Global Sports Mentoring Program CEO Rabia Qadir on Wednesday. She also accepted an invitation to become a member of advisory board of Galaxy Sports Academy (GSA).

The two sports women exchange their views about the work needed to be done for the promotion of sports in the youth especially girls. Maria said that she planned to establish a sports fund for the needy children who have the potential to become stars, but don’t have the resources, for that purpose she will seek government help as well as get private donations.

Rabia Qadir, a former international hockey

player and a technical official, briefed Maria about the work she is doing for the underprivileged girls and her project to ‘Empower Women Through Sports’ and discussed future plan to provide better opportunities to the youth of Pakistan in the field of sports.

Young cricketer from Mardan dies after being struck by bouncer MARDAN STAFF REPORT

After being struck by a bouncer during a game in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in district Mardan, Club cricketer Zubair Ahmed has died.

According to reports, 18year-old Zubair was hit in the head by the ill-fated bouncer on Monday while he was batting at a cricket academy. He was a resident of Katlang, Mardan.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) expressed condolences on the youngster’s tragic death earlier today. “Tragic death of Zubair Ahmed is another reminder that safety gear i.e. helmet must be worn at all times.

Our sympathies with Zubair’s family,” the PCB tweeted.

The tweet indicates that Zubair was not wearing a helmet at the time the bouncer struck him – a grim reminder of the dangers of playing the game without protective gear.

Former Australian cricketer and Islamabad United coach Dean Jones also expressed sadness at the incident.

“It’s so sad to hear.

Young cricketer Zubair died in Mardan after cricket ball hit him on head during a match.

Condolences to his family,” he tweeted.

The tragic news comes after

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a bouncer hit Australian opener David Warner during a domestic match in Darwin. Shaken after the blow, Warner walked off the field, leaving his bat behind. However, he is recovering and is expected to be fit for

Australia’s tour of Bangladesh.

In 2014, Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes passed away after succumbing to a head injury sustained during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

SPORTS Thursday, 17 August, 2017

Umar akmal laUnches verbal attack on ‘abUser’ mickey arthUr LAHORE

b

STAFF REPORT

ATSMAN Umar Akmal on Wednesday launches a verbal attack on Mickey Arthur, saying that the national side coach had verbally abused him in front of Chief Selector Inzamamul Haq. Akmal further claimed that Arthur is also abusive towards other players.

He also said that senior players did not stop the coach when he was being verbally abused and added that the coach had told him to play club-level cricket instead of coming to the academy.

The batsman further said that he was dropped from the team after an unjustified warning.

He also said that he wants to inform the Pakistan Cricket Board regarding the behaviour of the coaching staff.

Akmal was dropped from the Pakistan squad for the Champions Trophy in Birmingham this year after the batsman failed two consecutive fitness tests in two months.

The middle-order batsman’s failure in fitness tests prompted selectors to bring in Haris Sohail in

place of Akmal, asking the cricketer to return home to work on his fitness.

Akmal had also been dropped from the team that toured the West Indies in April, after being the only

player, among 31, to fail the fitness test during a camp held at the NCA in March.

In an annual assessment earlier this year, Akmal had weighed 91kg with a fat-level reading of 115.6.

A measurement in excess of 100 is considered high.

After being released from Pakistan’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, Akmal had apologised to his fans, saying he was determined to come back stronger than ever and promised to remain committed to cricket.

Arthur refutes ‘AllegAtions’: However, Mickey Arthur rubbished Akmal’s claims and said that the batsman was not telling the truth. The coach added that he had asked Akmal to improve upon his skills and attitude.

AkmAl’s endless controversies: This is would not be the first time that Akmal has become a figure of controversy off the field.

In 2014, Akmal was detained at a local police station in Lahore following a spat with a traffic warden over breaking a traffic signal.

The middle-order batsman also made headlines after a row with security personnel in a theatre auditorium in Faisalabad and also for being allegedly arrested from an event in Hyderabad.

ICC hires security company to aid resumption of cricket in Pakistan LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has hired an international security company on a three-year term in order to aid the resumption of international cricket in Pakistan, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi said on Tuesday.

Sethi told a local daily that the security company will visit the country during either the last week of August or the first week of September. “It’s a step by the ICC for the revival of international cricket in Pakistan,” Sethi said, “The company is based in three countries - the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates - and has a good repute.”

“A representative of the Federation of International Cricketers (FICA) will accompany the security company to personally monitor the security situation in Lahore,” he added.

“It will be a four-day visit where the security company will work with the Punjab government to get assurances that all the recommendations submitted by security experts of the different countries who visited Lahore to watch the final of the second Pakistan Super League (PSL) season have been incorporated by the government in its SOPs, or not,” Sethi said.

Sethi disclosed that the security team will visit the country each year and the

ICC would pay them US$400,000 for every visit, making it a total of US$1.2million for the full three-year term. PCB chief hails this move, said that it will lead to resumption of international cricket in country “On the report of the security company, it would pave the way for resumption of international cricket to the country, clearing the way for the PSL to be played here,” Sethi added.

“The inclusion of the FICA representative is to satisfy the foreign players’

concerns over visiting Pakistan.”

The country’s cricket chief said the recommendations made by foreign security experts who came for the PSL final had been incorporated in the SOPs of the Punjab government.

Among the foreign delegations during the PSL final was one from Sri Lanka, which Sethi said, had given a positive report about the security arrangements and therefore Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had agreed on a short trip to Lahore during their upcoming

series against Pakistan.

On that short trip in October, subject to security clearance, Sri Lanka could play a maximum of two T20 Internationals in Lahore. “The Sri Lankans have agreed to play the third game of the T20 series against Pakistan in Lahore,” said Sethi, who returned home from Sri Lanka after presiding over the Asian Cricket Council meeting in Colombo. “The second match can also be staged in Lahore.”

He said the visit of the ICC World XI was almost on the cards but he could not, at this point in time, disclose the exact dates of the tour. The World XI is to play three T20 matches in Lahore next month.

Meanwhile, about shifting of the Asia Under-19 Cup to Malaysia from India, the PCB chairman said the decision was taken with consensus to avoid any controversy.

Sethi said the Indian delegates, who attended the ACC meeting, agreed to shift the event to Malaysia. He said the decision was taken in a friendly atmosphere and there was no acrimony. He said that although Sri Lanka could have been the next hosts of the Under-19 event, the decision to hold it in Malaysia was taken to promote cricket in the small cricketing nation.

He said the PCB would also help Maldives in promoting the game of cricket in the tiny island.

Mayor demands ‘at least Love Pakistan more than its mountains: American climber one match’ in Karachi KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Terming the upcoming T20 cricket series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka a good omen, Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Tuesday demanded that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) organise at least one of the matches of the highly anticipated contest in Karachi.

“This is a welcome sign that the drought of international cricket [in Pakistan] is finally ending, thus, it is high time that the country’s largest city gets at least one match in the upcoming series,” said the mayor while speaking to reporters at his office.

Karachi’s famous National Stadium hosted its last ODI and Test match against Sri Lanka in January and February of 2009 in the series which proved to be Pakistan’s last exposure to international cricket when the Sri Lankan team was attacked on the third day of the Lahore Test near Gaddafi Stadium in March.

The city mayor promised a ‘foolproof’ security plan for players and officials by effectively engaging police and paramilitary Rangers if a match was awarded to the city. He thanked the Sri Lanka cricket authorities for sending their players to Pakistan and pledged that the cricket-loving residents of Karachi would shower immense love on the visiting islanders, who, despite what happened in the past are helping us to revive the most popular sport in the country.

“Once we host our Sri Lankan brothers, it will surely encourage other international teams to visit us in future.” He said that Karachi had been a popular venue, which had witnessed several memorable and thrilling bouts in the past. “Our sportsmanship has been praised by the rest of the world, and it is an open secret that international players felt proud to play in Karachi.”

ISLAMABAD APP

American-British female mountaineer Vanessa O’Brien, who recently scaled K2, said on Tuesday that the warmth and love she received in Pakistan was matchless.

“I love Pakistan’s people more than its mountains,” she told media in a news conference at a hotel. Vanessa said that she found Pakistani people loving and caring. “I love Pakistan, its people and will like to travel it again,” the 52year old, who carried flags of both the US and Pakistan atop the mountain said.

She said she would prefer to do something for Pakistan and its youth. “There were so many opportunities in Pakistan,” she said adding that it needed support in various sectors and she would like to do something for

this country. Vanessa, who had already ascended Mount Everest and other lofty peaks around the globe said that technically K2 was more difficult peak than the Everest. “Less than 400 people have climbed K2, and for every five that summit it, one dies. This compares to Everest where 7,600 people have scaled that mountain.

“As far as women, who have climbed K2, I’m officially the 20th to climb K2, just a speck compared to Everest’s 489 women,” she said. Vanessa’s team consisted of climbers from China, Norway, Scotland, Pakistan and Nepal. She appreciated her team members saying, “I’m extremely proud of this team for their dedication, perseverance, bravery and commitment to reach the summit of K2 and to take additional risk.” To a question she said that women should try to come forward and do something different. “They should try new things. And I believe they are capable of doing anything. But they also need the support and backing of men. Men should be forthcoming.

Their support can help women achieve their goals,” she said.

“I believe one should set their sights high, announce their intentions, ask for help, learn from their mistakes, believe in guardian angels and not let others tell you it is over until you say it is over.

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore.

CMYK

Dean Jones willing to visit Pakistan, commentate during Sri Lanka tour Islamabad United coach and former Australian cricketer Dean Jones has said that he is very happy to learn that a World XI team and the Sri Lankan side will tour Pakistan this year, while stating that he is ready to visit Pakistan as a commentator for the series.

“I felt so happy after hearing the news of Sri Lankan team’s tour to Pakistan.

I am ready to visit Lahore again as a commentator if Sri Lanka comes to play T20 [matches there]. It will be a great moment,” he said in in a Twitter exchange with a local daily. Jones said that the success of the World XI team tour and that of the Sri Lankan team could lead to the revival of international cricket in Pakistan.

“These two team tours are very important for Pakistan cricket. I am hopeful that if all goes well, it will open the door for the revival of international cricket in Pakistan and it will be a great boost for Pakistan cricket after the Champions Trophy triumph.” Sri Lanka’s cricket board earlier this week approved a tour to Pakistan, eight years after a deadly militant attack on the team obliterated hopes of top international games in the country. Sri Lankan cricket chief Thilanga Sumathipala said that after a security assessment, the team had been cleared to play three Twenty20 internationals, including ‘at least one’ in Lahore — the scene of the 2009 attack which left eight people dead. Since 2009, the only international team to visit Pakistan is Zimbabwe, who played five limitedovers games in Lahore in 2015. Pakistan play their “home” internationals in the United Arab Emirates. But, there were hopeful signs when Pakistan successfully staged the final of the Pakistan Super League — the rest of which was played in UAE under heavy security in March. STAFF REPORT